Remote operational screener

ABSTRACT

This invention provides an audible remote screening function or device for use with an answering device or machine and may also combine this screening function with an ability for remote operational control of an answering device or machine. Preferred forms of the invention provide for remote call screening of an answering device or machine, or remote call screening of an answering device or machine together with remote operational control of an answering device or machine, with the capability to remotely operate and/or remotely screen calls (incoming or pre-recorded) of that of an answering device or machine from a remote area or room via the remote function or device. In preferred forms: the audible remote screening from the device can be heard across a room or from another room; the remote device can be made to stay in an active ON mode eliminating any need for the user to search, locate, or activate the remote device or any command signal per call being screened; the remote operational control and/or screening device can be directly plugged in allowing for simultaneous power and recharge abilities for continuous power and uninterrupted operation ability; a remote-override switch located on an answering device or machine for privacy control over unauthorized access to the answering device or machine from the remote device; and small size for portability. The functions and capabilities of the remote device can be implemented, combined and used in conjunction with/into any other unit or housing. This invention also provides visual screening functions.

CROSS REFERENCE TO OTHER APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation-In-Part of continuation-in-part Ser.No. 10/843,529 filed May 10, 2004 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,039,393 ofcontinuation-in-part application Ser. No. 09/639,386, filed Aug. 15,2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,792,263 Sep. 14, 2004 and parent applicationSer. No. 08/943,833, filed Oct. 3, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,104,923issued Aug. 15, 2000.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of Invention

This invention is cross referenced with Co-Pending application Ser. No.10/017,529, Provisional Filed Dec. 12, 2000; Utility Filed Dec. 12,2001.

This invention relates generally to telephone answering machines, andmore particularly to a remote call screening device that allows a userto monitor and screen incoming telephone calls.

2. Description of Prior Art

Originally, answering machines could only provide the user with two waysof screening or monitoring his incoming telephone calls. One way is toplay back a previously recorded message that was left on an answeringmachine. The other way is to listen to the loudspeaker of an answeringmachine at the same time that the caller is leaving the message. Inother words, screen the caller. If at this point the user options toconverse with the caller, the user can then pick up a telephone pluggedinto or near the answering machine. But if the user is in a remotelocation, away from the answering machine unit, such as in another roomor across the house, the user may hear the ringing signal of thetelephone but will not be able to screen the incoming telephone call todecide whether or not he wishes to pick up the telephone and speak withthat calling party, without his having to run to the other room oracross the house to where the answering machine itself is located, inorder to hear or screen the caller, who is leaving a message, throughthe loudspeaker of the answering machine.

Also, answering machines are only accessible in limited ways. One way isby direct manipulation of the actual answering machine unit. The secondway is by an outside telephone line with touch-tone capabilities or“beeper remote”. The third way is by a cordless, touch-tone, telephonewith corresponding circuitry integrated within a matching answeringmachine unit. And this last example is limited in its accessibility toan answering machine.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,881,259 to Scordato (1989) provides an audio “screeningmode” in a cordless, touch-tone telephone integrated within an answeringmachine unit.

A Caller ID provides a visual “screening method” whereby the telephonenumber from where a caller is calling from (and sometimes a nameassociated with that particular telephone number) is displayed on an LCDscreen, sometimes with an option to store a limited amount of telephonenumbers. Caller ID requires that a special Caller Identification Servicebe used in conjunction with a Caller ID unit. A Caller IdentificationService must be purchased from a telephone company, in addition to yourregular telephone service, in order to be able to use a Caller ID. TheCaller ID units are singular units within themselves or are integratedwithin a cordless telephone receiver of an integrated cordless telephoneand its matching base unit.

Nevertheless, Scordato U.S. Pat. No. 4,881,259 and Caller ID suffer froma number of disadvantages:

(a) The use of Scordato's system requires a phone.

(b) The use of Scordato's system requires a cordless phone.

(c) The use of Scordato's system requires a cordless telephone that mustbe integrated with its own matching answering machine/recharger baseunit.

In the use of Caller ID units that are included within cordlesstelephone receivers, the cordless telephone receiver also must beintegrated with its own matching recharger base unit.

(d) The Scordato system requires that a switch actuator on the cordlessreceiver unit be turned “on” in order to activate the “screener mode” inthe matching base answering machine unit. This switch actuator must beturned “on” per incoming call in order to be able to screen incomingcalls. Scordato's invention must be in one of either an active mode“screen mode” or in a passive mode “non-screen mode”. In order tohear/screen an incoming call, the “screen mode” must be activated at thetime that a caller is presently calling, and re-activated at the time ofeach additional call, requiring that the user has to locate andphysically be at the cordless telephone receiver of the matchinganswering machine base unit in order to physically manipulate theactuator command signal (turn it “on”) in order to activate the “screenmode” in the answering machine base in order to be able to use thisscreening function.

(e) The user of the Scordato invention has to physically be at theremote cordless telephone receiver of the matching answering machinebase unit, hands on, putting receiver to ear in order to hear the callsbeing screened as messages are being left.

With Caller ID, the user has to be close enough to pick up and/or be ineyesight (reading) range of any Caller ID unit in order to be able toread the telephone number information on the LCD screen.

(f) With the Scordato invention, telephone calls cannot be screened orlistened to by more than one person simultaneously, such as familymembers who are waiting for their own prospective callers, because thecordless telephone handset receiver of the Scordato invention can onlybe put to one user's ear at a time in order to hear the call beingscreened, and only the person whose ear is on the receiver can hear thecall being screened.

(g) Scordato's invention has a manufacturer installed, fixed “familycode” shared between the answering machine/recharging base unit and itscordless telephone handset receiver unit, thereby limiting its screeninguse to just one remote screening device: that of the matching cordlesstelephone handset receiver.

In the cordless telephone version of Caller ID there is also only onecordless telephone receiver per matching recharging base unit, therebylimiting screening use to just one cordless receiver unit.

(h) In Scordato's invention, a cordless telephone handset receiver needsrecharging at a home base unit. Therefore, because a cordless telephonereceiver consistently needs recurring recharging or sometimes fullcharging, the receiver is not always capable of being in a convenient orremote location where a user may happen to be.

The same is true of the cordless telephone version of Caller ID, as italso needs recharging at a home base unit. Therefore it also is notalways capable of being in a convenient or remote location where a usermay happen to be.

(i) In Scordato's invention, the only way to turn the screening mode Offand On has its location in the cordless telephone handset receiver unit.Because there is no separate On/Off switch on the matching answeringmachine/base unit itself to keep the screening mode on the cordlesstelephone handset receiver from operating (to disable the screen mode onthe cordless handset receiver) at the user's discretion, this does notafford the user/owner with any privacy or control over somebody elsepicking up the cordless telephone handset receiver and remotelyscreening the owner's incoming or recorded calls that were left on hisanswering machine. The user's/owner's only option for this would be toturn the whole answering machine unit off.

(j) In Scordato's invention, the answering machine/base unit does nothave an indicator to show that the screen mode is “on” and being usedfrom the cordless telephone handset receiver, thus the user/owner is notable know when somebody else may be operating the screen mode from thecordless telephone receiver and listening to the user's/owner's personalcalls. This lacking, also, does not afford the user/owner the option tocontrol his privacy.

(k) The Scordato invention is not capable of recharging and being in ascreen mode concurrently, therefore putting limitation on screeningavailability.

The cordless telephone version of Caller ID is also not capable ofrecharging and being in a screen mode concurrently, limiting availablescreening time.

(l) The cordless telephone receiver cannot plug directly into an ACoutlet for a constant source of power, again limiting its availablescreening time to when the cordless telephone receiver is not beingrecharged in its base.

The same is true, again, of the cordless telephone version of Caller ID.

(m) The cordless telephone receiver is not equipped with a source for anoptional adapter plug with cord in order to maintain an active screenmode and a concurrent constant source of power.

The same is true of the cordless telephone version of Caller ID.

(n) There are many other reasons that Caller ID is not very practical,such as:

Most people only have a few telephone numbers memorized in their heads,therefore, as a calling party is calling, the user of Caller ID mustrack his brain as to whom the phone number belongs to that is beingdisplayed on the LCD.

If a user is expecting or receiving a call from a first-time caller, theuser of Caller ID probably won't have any idea whose phone number isbeing displayed on the LCD screen of his Caller ID unit. And even if aname is displayed with the telephone number, the user still has no wayof knowing who is really on the line nor no way of finding out thecontent of the call, what it's regarding, etc. through a Caller ID.

If the user is expecting a call from a favored someone (favored caller)who happens to be calling from a different phone or location than whatis stored for them in the Caller ID unit or memorized in the user's headfor that particular person, the user is at a loss as to who is calling.

The user may not wish to converse with other-wise-favored callers atcertain particular times, though these callers may have their phonenumbers stored as preferred caller numbers in the Caller ID unit.

The user may not wish to converse with a caller depending on what kindof message the caller has for him or what the caller has to say, and aCaller ID LCD phone number display is not going to help in theseinstances, whether or not the caller is calling from a preferred number.

The user may wish to speak to only a certain particular caller from aselected stored phone number and not to the other people that may livethere at that same number, but the user of the Caller ID unit is notable to discern who from that telephone number really is calling.

So, in regards to that just mentioned, and also for that of non-storedtelephone numbers or non-familiar telephone numbers, in order to reallyscreen his calls, the user would then still need to be at his answeringmachine unit in order to hear the calls being screened, despite havingCaller ID.

(o) Caller ID requires that a special Caller Identification Service beused in conjunction with a Caller ID unit. The service must be purchasedfrom a telephone company in addition to your regular telephone servicein order to be able to use a Caller ID system. This service is onlyavailable where the service is provided.

(p) In order to protect their own safety and privacy, most consumershave chosen to block Caller ID so that their own personal telephonenumbers will not be forwarded to someone else's Caller ID unit, in orderto keep their telephone number private and their location private, forsafety and other privacy reasons.

OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES

Accordingly, there are several objects and advantages of the presentinvention, and with additional features, there are even still furtherobjects and advantages. The remote screening device and/or its functionsand capabilities, and the remote operational/screening device and/or itsfunctions and capabilities of the present invention are herein referredto as Remotes. Call receiving and storage devices will mostly bereferred to as answering machines, but are not restricted to such.Objects and advantages of the present invention are:

(a) To provide an externally audible Remote screening device to be usedfor or with a call receiving and storage device including call answeringmachine, service, device, or message storage.

(b) To provide an externally audible Remote screening device with remoteoperational capabilities to be used for or with a call receiving andstorage device including call answering machine, service, device, ormessage storage.

(c) To provide an answering machine Remote device(s) that is not limitedto the use of a phone. No phone is needed.

(d) To provide answering machine Remote device(s) that are not limitedto use of a cordless telephone or any other type of phone. No specifictype of phone is needed.

(e) To provide Remote device(s) that are not limited to touch-tone useor signal tone use.

(f) 1. To provide Remote device(s) that can be heard, listened to, andunderstood (is audible) from a distance away from the actual Remotescreening device, such as heard from across a room or heard from anotherroom or area (because a Remote is outwardly audible), withoutnecessitating that a user has to physically be at the place where aRemote unit is presently located. Without necessitating that the user,as in the case of the Scordato patent, have to get up and go across aroom or go to another room in order to pick up the cordless screeningtelephone receiver because of the need to put the cordless screeningtelephone receiver up to one's ear in order to hear the caller beingscreened.

2. To provide a Remote device where the user does not have to be withinreading distance of a visual screening unit, as is the case with CallerID, in the order that he must see a phone number being displayed inorder that he may screen a call.

(g) 1. To provide for a Remote device(s) that allows for more than oneperson at a time to be able to hear the calls being screened. The callscan be screened simultaneously by, for example, the whole family,roommates, co-workers, etc. allowing for all of them to screen, orlisten, simultaneously, while waiting for their own individual,prospective callers, as there is no need to put a screening telephonereceiver up to any one individual's ear. My invention is outwardlyaudible and can be heard from a distance from itself, eliminating thelimitation of only one user at a time who can screen. This therebyallows for every individual, in a household, for example, to discernwhom the call is for and discriminate whether or not it is for him orher.

2. To provide for a Remote device where there is no need for everyone toget up to look at and read a telephone number being displayed on avisual display screen in order to screen their calls.

(h) To provide a Remote device(s) that is able to stay and remain in anactive screening mode (On) without necessitating that the user, as inthe case of the Scordato patent, has to actively search, locate, and/orphysically be at a screening telephone handset receiver unit in orderfor the user to have to activate a command that allows for the screeningprocess per incoming call. Eliminating this requirement, and/orproviding alternative methods, allowing for a Remote device to remainand stay in an active (On) mode, provides for convenience, and is alsothus potentially faster as the user is not likely to miss screening acall, or part of a call, due to a possibility of having to spend timesearching for a screening handset receiver that may be located elsewherein another room or across the house, for example, and then, oncelocated, having to activate its screening process.

Depending on Embodiment, Further Objects and Advantages are:

(i) To provide remote operational and/or screening devices, units, orcapabilities that either/and/or:

1. Do not require a fixed “family code” between an answering machine andRemote device(s), as this can limit the user to just the matching Remotedevices that may be packaged along with a paired answering machine andcan further limit the possible later purchase of additional Remotedevices for the possible use in more areas, or rooms, at a time, and/orpossibly,

2. By providing that Remotes may be made to be programmable to work withan answering machine, and/or that Remotes may be made to be manipulatedinto fitting into a fixed “family code” of an already purchasedanswering machine that has a fixed “family code”, and/or possibly,

3. By providing that answering machines can be manufactured as “Remotecompatible”, this allows the possible purchase and addition of multipleRemote devices or units at later dates, and/or possibly,

4. By providing that several Remote devices at a time can be packagedalong with its paired answering machine unit. This may or may notinvolve a fixed “family code”.

(j) To provide a Remote capability or device that can give the choice ofdifferent channels or frequencies for:

1. best reception abilities, and/or

2. so that other persons in, e.g. the same household or neighboringarea, may own and operate their own individual Remote units andanswering machine units, without interference from or with anotherneighboring person's units.

(k) To provide a Remote device that can plug directly into an AC outletfor a constant source of screening and/or operating power.

(l) To provide a Remote device that has the capacity to recharge andstill be able to concurrently operate, and/or receive and transmit ascreened call so that screening and/or operating usage can beindefinite.

(m) To provide a Remote device(s) that doesn't need recharging in a“home base” unit, thereby adding to its convenience, as a Remote unit ordevice is more capable of constantly being available to the user inremote locations without having to return it to a “homebase” rechargingunit. And with the use of multiple Remote units or devices, severalvariable remote locations are available simultaneously for placement.

(n) To provide a Remote device with the means to remotely operate andaccess the functions of an answering machine.

(o) To provide an answering machine with a separate On/Off controlswitch for the overriding control of the Remote device(s). ThisRemote-override control switch, located on the answering machine,separate from the answering machine's own main On/Off switch, allows theuser to turn Off the Remote(s)' abilities from the location of theanswering machine unit itself without having to turn off the wholeanswering machine. This thereby prevents someone else from unauthorizedremote usage of the Remote unit(s). This overriding control switchprovides the user with control of his privacy; no one will be able toremotely screen the user's calls nor operate the user's answeringmachine from the Remotes, and, yet, the user is still left with theoperable use of his answering machine's own usual functionalcapabilities, as the answering machine is still in its own On mode.

(p) To provide a simple to use Remote device or unit, preferably smallin size, and light in weight, with a greater ease of portability, thatcan be kept and/or transferred to and from inconspicuous placements,providing for greater accessibility.

(q) To provide the user with an answering machine remote operationaldevice that provides life with a little more convenience, saving timeand labor, as the user will have the ability to operate and access hisanswering machine and/or screen his calls (incoming or recorded)remotely from another room, from a distance, or from outside, away froman answering machine unit, with a Remote unit, device, or capability. ARemote can be remotely placed, and simultaneously be kept in an activeOn mode. This eliminates any need for the user to have to get up and/orturn On any activation mechanism per incoming call being screened.

(r) To provide and realize an almost untapped market and an existingneed. What is on the market is either relatively unknown, uneconomical,and/or unpractical. Since portable phones with their matching answeringmachines can be a relatively expensive purchase, what my inventionprovides is more economical for the consumer than the Scordato patent,as in a preferred embodiment there is no need for the purchase or use ofa cordless phone, and more than one Remote can be used with, and/orincluded with, an answering machine.

In order to use a Caller ID system, a person must pay not only for thespecial equipment, but they must also pay a phone company for the addedCaller ID service that must be purchased in order to be able to useCaller ID. And, most importantly, Caller ID is not very practical; Sincemost people don't like their telephone numbers being given out, and mostpeople have opted to block Caller ID, which means that no matter even ifa user has Caller ID service, those numerous people who have blockedCaller ID have phone numbers that are not accessible to the user with aCaller ID system: They are “unscreenable”.

(s) To provide for a more cost effective means for manufacturers andconsumers:

1. Since circuitry is less complicated than the Scordato patent, itshould be cheaper to build, and in turn should be less expensive forconsumers to buy. Less expensive equals more affordability for theconsumer, which, in theory, equals a higher probability that the masseswill buy.

2. Most households contain at least one answering device or machine.Most answering machines are replaced every few years; therefore myinvention should be easy to sell not only to consumers, but tomanufacturers as well.

3. In providing the option of more than one Remote, or numerous Remotesthat are capable of being used in conjunction with or interacting with atelephone answering device or machine, and/or the option of being ableto use and purchase additional Remotes at a later date than the originalpurchase of an answering device or machine, gives the purchaser abroader consumer choice and a greater array of remote abilities. This isalso another potential selling point to and for a manufacturer.

4. Even throughout a changing technology, my invention could be made andsold for many years without becoming outmoded or obsolete. Hence, it hasa long life cycle potential, which would justify capital expendituresfor tooling and conducting advertising campaigns.

The user is thus provided with a remote call screening unit orcapability, and/or remote call screening unit or capability along withremote operational capability, to be used to listen to, remotely screen,and/or remotely operate and access an answering machine, with either ofthe units (the Remote or the answering machine), or each unit, havingappropriate inner workings to allow such capabilities, the features notrestricted to any particular type of telephone or to any telephone atall. Such an invention has not even been hitherto available.

Still further objects and advantages, many not already mentioned above,will become apparent from a consideration of the ensuing specification,claims, and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E show front perspective views of some of manypossible variants of basic Remotes in self-contained units.

FIG. 1A shows a front perspective view of a possible basic Remotewithout On/Off or volume control, that is “On” and audible as long aspower source is available.

FIG. 1B shows a perspective view of a possible basic Remote thatincludes volume control, the unit being “On” as long as there is a powersource available.

FIG. 1C shows a possible embodiment of a Remote with single or combined“On/Off”-volume controller.

FIG. 1D shows a possible embodiment of a Remote with “On/Off” control,without a volume control, the unit audible as long as unit is turned“On”.

FIG. 1E shows a possible embodiment of a Remote with separate “On/Off”and volume controls.

FIG. 2 shows a front perspective view of a possible Remote, withadditional possible features, and FIG. 2 also shows an example of apossible telephone answering machine that embodies some possibleadditional features that may be used together with Remotes.

FIG. 3A shows another front perspective view of a possible Remote.

FIG. 3B shows a side view of a possible Remote shown in contact with anAC outlet.

FIG. 3C is a side view of a possible Remote showing possible differentpivotal positions of a possible collapsible or moveable AC prong.

FIG. 3D is a rear perspective view of a possible Remote showing apossible surrounding audio speaker vent or grill and also showing apossible sunken recess portion for a possible collapsible AC prong whenin collapsed state.

FIG. 3E is a rear perspective view of a possible Remote showing apossible belt clip and also showing a possible AC prong in a collapsedstate.

FIG. 3F shows a possible Remote embodiment that includes a channelselect/scan button.

FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B show front perspective views of possible Remotesshowing some possible embodiments that include additional remoteoperational or remote control function(s) and feature(s) that are usablewith an answering machine.

FIG. 5A shows a side view of a possible Remote that includes a possiblephone jack connector prong shown in contact with a phone line outlet.

FIG. 5B shows a perspective view of a possible Remote and also includesa possible corded AC prong.

FIG. 6A shows a front elevation view of an example of a possible basicanswering machine that can be used with a Remote.

FIG. 6B shows a front elevation view of a possible answering machinethat embodies possible additional variable features that can be usedtogether with a Remote unit.

FIG. 7A shows possible embodiment of Remote included within telephonebase/cradle.

FIG. 7B shows possible embodiment of Remote included within phonerecharger/base unit/cradle.

FIG. 8 shows possible embodiment of Remote included within a phonehandset (receiver).

FIG. 9 shows possible embodiment of Remote included within both phonebase and a phone handset (receiver).

FIG. 10 shows possible embodiment of Remote included within a TV set.

FIG. 11 shows possible embodiment of Remote included within a computersystem.

FIG. 12 shows possible embodiment of Remote included within a cellularphone or car phone.

FIG. 13 shows a side view of a possible embodiment of Remote includedwithin a cordless receiver showing possible audio speaker venting andalso showing possible “On/Off” control.

FIG. 14 shows a side view of a possible embodiment of Remote includedwithin a cordless receiver showing possible AC prong, preferablycollapsible, in contact with an AC outlet and also showing possibleaudio speaker venting and also showing “On/Off” control.

FIG. 15 shows a possible embodiment of a Remote that includes Caller ID.

FIG. 16 shows a remote call screening system including an answeringmachine with multiple “mailboxes” for storing voice messages andmultiple Remote units for monitoring incoming messages and for replayingpreviously recorded messages.

FIG. 17 shows an integrated device with a handset that combines thefunctions of a cordless telephone receiver with those of an answeringmachine and call screening Remote unit.

FIG. 18 shows a rear view of the handset of FIG. 17.

FIGS. 19A–19F show pictorial schematics of various embodiments andsystems of a call screening device according to the present invention.

FIG. 20 shows a possible embodiment and system of a video call screeningdevice

FIGS. 21–23 and FIG. 25 show examples or wireless phones, wirelessphones with TTY, or PDA's embodied with an integrated projection meansin which to screen and project incoming visual or video communications.

FIG. 24 shows an example of a PDA or wireless TTY communications unitwith an integrated projection means in which to screen and projectincoming visual or video communications.

FIGS. 26A–26B shows an example of a cordless phone with an integratedprojection means in which to screen and project incoming visual or videocommunications.

FIG. 27 shows an example of a video-phone with an integrated projectionmeans in which to screen and project incoming visual or videocommunications.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a household, as also in some businesses, there is usually only asingle telephone answering device or answering machine unit. Theanswering device or answering machine unit is located in one room of thehouse, or business, and usually more than one telephone extension ofthat same phone line is spread throughout the house with differenttelephones in different rooms. This poses a problem when someone in oneroom wants to access the answering machine, or screen an incoming (orrecorded) call, and that answering machine is located in another roomacross the house. How does the user accomplish this without having toget up to go into the room where the answering machine unit is located?The solution is as follows:

Example: When an answering device or answering machine (preferably ofthe remote pick-up type) receives a caller's message, it simultaneouslypicks up and transmits the caller's voice to the user who, away from theanswering machine unit, in some remote location, hears the caller'svoice through a Remote unit or device. The user hears the caller's voiceand can screen the call as the message is being left, through the Remoteunit or device, though he is not at the location of the answeringmachine. The user is able to do this through the interacting of theRemote(s) with an answering machine, which allow the user (from a remotelocation, away from the answering machine unit) to conveniently screencalls, or select which calls he options to pick up and speak with, allat the same time that the calling party is currently leaving a message.The user can have the ability of screening incoming calls, (and/orrecorded calls, depending on embodiment), hear who's calling and thecontent of the message, from any convenient place, such as e.g. another(remote place) room in the house, outside of the house, etc. Dependingon embodiment, the Remote(s) are capable of being transported easily formore convenience; a user may wish to place a Remote near a telephone (ofany type) of the same extension that is connected to the answeringmachine, (the telephone being set up in any area such as outside, acrossthe house, in another room, downstairs, etc.) enabling easy access topick up the screened phone call should the user option to.

Because most modern telephone answering devices or machines are of theremote pick-up type (wherein the answering machine will revert todormant status immediately upon pick-up of any telephone extensionconnected to the same line), transmission of the caller's voice to aRemote will also stop upon pick-up of any phone extension of the sameline, in such that the user may then have a private conversation withthe caller.

Depending on embodiment, the user may also manipulate any remoteoperational or function controls and/or recording controls that may belocated on a Remote, enabling the user to access and/or operate ananswering machine remotely with the Remote, from a neighboring area.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

While this invention is susceptible of modifications, methods ofoperation, and embodiments in many different forms, there is shown inthe drawings and will herein be described (in detail) some preferredmodifications and embodiments of the invention with the understandingthat the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification ofthe principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broadaspect of the invention to the embodiments illustrated, and that changesmay be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention.

The present invention allows for a Remote that is capable of interactingwith a call receiving and storage device including call answeringmachine, service, device or message storage, allowing the user to(depending on embodiment):

a. conveniently hear and screen incoming calls remotely, through theRemote, without the caller knowing that he/she is being screened,

and/or

b. remotely operate his answering machine and its various functionsthrough the Remote.

All possible from a remote area, or areas, away from or elsewhere fromwhere an answering machine actually resides.

“Answering machine” is used in this text to mean any answering machine,service, answering device, or message storage center designed to receiveand/or store messages.

In preferred embodiments, the Remotes are small in size.

FIG. 1A shows a possible embodiment of a basic Remote without “On/Off”switch or volume control switch, the Remote being “On” and audible aslong as power source is available.

FIG. 1B shows another possible embodiment of a basic Remote thatincludes a volume control 220, the Remote being “On” as long as there isa power source available.

FIGS. 1C, 1D, and 1E show some of other possible embodiments of basicRemotes with variable “On/Off” and/or volume controls. FIG. 1C shows apossible embodiment of a Remote with a combined “On/Off” and volumecontroller 221. FIG. 1D shows a possible embodiment of a Remote with“On/Off” control 200, without a volume control, the Remote being audibleas long as Remote is turned “On”. FIG. 1E shows a possible embodiment ofa Remote with separate “On/Off” 200 and volume 220 controls.

The following of some of many possible Remote features and functions areshown collectively in some drawings but are not restricted to such orany specific number or combination. They may be embodied alone, in manyof any combinations, together in different combinations, and/orcollectively together on a Remote unit.

FIG. 2 shows a possible embodiment of a Remote with possible variable,additional features, and FIG. 2 also shows a possible embodiment of ananswering machine unit with possible variable, additional features.

FIG. 3A shows another drawing of an embodiment of a Remote with some ofmany possible variable features.

In a preferred embodiment, the user may manipulate an ON/OFF controlswitch, dial, knob, button, etc. 200 (FIG. 3A) that regulates thecontrol of the functional capabilities of a Remote. The user may turnthe Remote ON or OFF at his convenience. The user has the option toleave the Remote in an ON (or active) mode, thereby enabling a constantreceiving (screening) ability and/or the constant remote operationalability of an answering machine. For example, the user need not have toactivate any actuator (“On” mechanism) per incoming call in order tohear (screen) that incoming call since, if the Remote is left “ON”, theRemote will automatically emit the voice of the caller. The user has theoption of leaving a Remote in an active (ON) mode, thereby eliminatingany need to actively locate and physically be at a screening device inorder to have to turn the screening capacity ON every time there is anincoming call (as is the case with the Scordato patent).

Embodiments of a Remote may include any number of indicator lights(LEDs, light emitting diodes). An LED 205 (FIG. 3A) can be used as anindicator for power, indicating Remote is ON (active), and/or as anindicator for distance, letting the user know when the Remote is out ofrange. This LED or any other one, example 206 (FIG. 3A), may also serveas a privacy indicator, letting the user know that someone else isaccessing his previously recorded messages, that other person eitheraccessing these messages at the answering machine itself, remotely byphone, by another Remote, etc. An LED, example 207 (FIG. 3A), can beused to indicate recharging of a Remote. Any LED can also be made toshow how many messages have been left on an answering machine byblinking the corresponding number of messages.

The circuitry that enables these abilities are already known in the art.

An embodiment of a Remote unit may include; automatic scanning andadjusting ability enabling a Remote to automatically scan and adjustover multiple channels or frequencies to best frequency reception,and/or an automatic channel select and scan control button or dial{example 208 (FIG. 3F)}, and/or may include a manipulablechannel/frequency selector/switch {example 210 (FIG. 3A)} with which tobe able to manipulably choose from certain multiple channels orfrequencies. An answering machine may possibly also include multiplechannels or frequencies: automatic, and/or manipulable, and/orselectable 110 (FIG. 6B).

Multiple channels or frequencies allow for

e.g.:

a. best reception ability

and/or

b. so that, for example, other persons in that same household, business,or neighboring area, who may have their own personal answering machineand Remote(s) may be able to switch their own units (answering machineand/or Remote) to a non-interfering channel/frequency, and/or have aRemote that is capable of automatically scanning to clearest frequency.

An example of one kind of possible manipulable channel/frequencyselector with a manipulable selector switch from which to choose fromcertain multiple frequencies or channels: Parents in a household settheir answering machine and/or Remote(s) to the channel/frequency “A”(see 210, FIG. 3A), while their teenager, who has his own answeringmachine and/or Remote(s), sets his unit(s) to the channel/frequency “B”,etc. thereby eliminating potential interference.

Another possible advantage: Remotes may be manufactured to be able to beused interchangeably, for example: to work in conjunction with eitherthe parents' or teenager's answering machine unit, by matching-upchannel/frequencies on the units, and/or, likewise, an answering machineunit may be manufactured to work interchangeably with either theparents' or teenager's Remote unit(s), by matching-upchannel/frequencies. Another example for use of a manipulablechannel/frequency selector/switch with which to be able to manipulablychoose certain channels: The teenager, if given an instruction byhis/her parents, may be able to listen for (screen) the parents'answering machine, from the convenience of the teenager's own room, forthat specific, important call that the parents are waiting for that mustbe answered personally, This may be done by switching the frequency orchannel of the teenager's own Remote unit from channel “B” to match thatof his parents' answering machine unit or Remote, channel “A”. Thisinterchangeability would not affect the ability of the parents'answering machine's continuing regular functioning. This possiblefrequency/channel selector interchangeability between an answeringmachine and other Remotes allows (provides the consumer with) muchversatility, convenience, and economy.

and/or

c. an answering machine and its manufacturer accompanying Remote(s) canhave factory predetermined matching “codes” so that signals are onlysent to matching “coded” units, thereby eliminating potentialinterference with other answering machine and/or Remotes that may bewithin, for example, the same household or neighboring area. Anembodiment of this nature can also be made with or without the abilityto automatically scan and adjust frequencies or channels; with orwithout automatic select and scan button; with or without manipulablechannel/frequency selector/switch option. Inclusion of channel/frequencyselection, automatic or otherwise, on either of, or both, an answeringmachine and/or Remote(s) in an embodiment of this nature, can still be auseful tool for the user to obtain optimum reception, privacy and/orversatility.

If there is a predetermined matching “code” between an answering machineand its Remote(s), the factory can include any plurality of matching“coded” Remote to accompany the answering machine unit in itsmanufacturer packaging. Allowing more than one matching “coded” Remoteto accompany an answering machine, thereby conveniently allows theconsumer numerous possible variable and simultaneous placements of morethan one Remote at a time. And depending on how many Remotes that may bepackaged together with an answering machine unit, this also provides theconsumer with choice of economy.

Embodiments of an answering machine and Remotes that do not include afactory predetermined matching “code” between the answering machine andthe Remote(s), allows for the consumer, at his own discretion, thepossible later date purchasing of numerous, additional Remotes that,again, can be used in numerous, convenient, variable placements andlocations, simultaneously.

Remotes can be manufactured to be programmable for use with answeringmachines, so, for example, in the case where a “code” is needed or thereis a predetermined matching “code” between answering machine and Remoteunits already purchased, additional Remotes can be purchased later andprogrammed to match the “code” of the answering machine unit.

Remotes can be manufactured in different ways to work or interact withanswering machines, including: being manipulable, and/or beingpre-manufactured, and/or being programmable, to work with answeringmachines.

The circuitry that allows such abilities is already known in the art.

A possible embodiment of a Remote may include the ability to remotelyoperate and access an answering machine. A Remote embodiment havingfunction controls, example including such as some shown collectively 270(FIG. 4A), and capabilities to remotely operate an answering machine'spossible numerous, variable functions, including such as: on/off, stop,play, replay, forward, back, listen, pause, etc. from a Remote, withnecessary remote function controls located on a Remote. Some of thesefunctions allow a user to remotely screen or listen to previouslyrecorded calls externally audibly through a Remote. Remote operationalor remote control access to an answering machine that may be, forexample, located in one room upstairs while the user is downstairs inthe kitchen, allows the user the ability to access the upstairsanswering machine, listen to previously recorded messages left fromcallers, leave new outgoing messages on the answering machine, etc. allfrom the convenience of the downstairs room where he is now atpresently.

And the Remote being externally audible allows all members of e.g. afamily the opportunity to all be able to hear the calls that were lefton the answering machine, eliminating any need for each family memberfrom having to take turns to each individually pick up a screeningreceiver in order to have to put the receiver up to their own ears,activate the proper switch, and only then being able to listen to thecalls (as would be the case with the Scordato patent).

This remote accessibility to an answering machine affords the userconvenience in his everyday life.

The circuitry for remote operation is generally well known in the art.

A possible embodiment of a Remote may include the capability to remotelyrecord onto an answering machine from a Remote, with microphone 280(FIG. 4B) and record control button/switch 275 (FIG. 4B). The circuitryfor such is generally well known in the art. This remote recordingfunction could be used for such as remotely recording outgoingannouncements on an answering machine, and/or for leaving “memo”messages on an answering machine from, for example, another room in thehouse.

An embodiment of a Remote can be manufactured so that the user can heara telephone's ring, or some kind of alarm signal, through a Remotewithout having to be near or within earshot of a telephone's ring. Thiscan provide for, if, by chance, the user has his telephone ringer off orcan't hear his telephone ringer, the user, hearing the ringing signalfrom a Remote, will still be alert to the fact that a call is about tocome through so that he may then listen (screen) through his Remote. Ifan embodiment of a Remote exists that does include a ringing signal,that embodiment might also include a switch to turn that Remote'sringing signal OFF or ON 223 (FIG. 3A).

An embodiment of a Remote may have any LED light up or flash inconjunction with a ringing signal or instead of a ringing signal. A litor flashing LED would be an extra alert in case a user cannot hear aringing signal from a Remote due to external noise. Depending onembodiment, if the user has opted to turn OFF the ringer switch on aRemote, he may still be able to be alerted that an incoming telephonecall is coming through, being made aware by a lit or flashing LED.

A Remote may include an antenna for optimum reception and/ortransmission of received and/or transmitted signals. A Remote's antennamay be manufactured: internally 215 (e.g. FIG. 3A) within the housing ofa unit or have a conventional external antenna (not shown).

The use of antennas, internal or external, is already known in the art.

An embodiment of a Remote may include a volume control, example 220(FIG. 3A) that may be adjusted in response to signals received from ananswering machine, whereby the audible sound coming from a Remote may beadjusted higher or lower.

FIGS. 3A and 3D show possible embodiments of Remotes with audio ventingor grill 225, with preferred embodiment having audio venting thatsurrounds a Remote unit for optimum sound emission in all directions.This allows for a Remote to be placed at any angle with an ability totransmit externally audible sound in all directions.

Audible sound emitted from a Remote could be a caller's voice, incomingand/or recorded, and/or a telephone ringing sound, depending onembodiment.

FIG. 3B shows a possible embodiment of a Remote that includes aconnector prong or plug 230, shown here in contact with an AC outlet.FIG. 3C shows a possible embodiment of a Remote with a collapsible,moveable, fold-out, or pivotal prong 233. FIG. 3D shows a rearperspective view of a possible embodiment of a Remote that includes apossible recessed area 240 for a possible collapsible, prong. A recessedarea may allow for a greater ability for a collapsible, retractable,moveable, fold-out, or pivotal prong in its collapsed or retracted stateto lay flush or almost flush with the housing of a Remote. A possibleexample of how this may work is shown in FIGS. 3C and 3E, though thisfeature may be embodied in many different ways. A collapsible ormoveable prong allows for greater ease of portability of a Remote.

FIG. 5A shows an embodiment of a Remote that is powered and/or givenaccess to a phone line (and/or answering machine) by connection to aphone line outlet or phone jack by a phone line, or phone jack connectorprong 285.

The necessary components to enable a unit to be powered by and/orinteract with a phone line are known in the art.

FIG. 5B shows a possible embodiment of a Remote and also possibleinclusion of a corded AC prong 234.

Having a connector prong, plug, or phone connector prong allows foraccessibility to a constant source of power. This power source canprovide for actual operational usage of a Remote and, depending onembodiment, can also provide for recharging a possible rechargeablepower supply or component 265 (FIG. 3A) located within a Remote.

Rechargeable components are already known in the art of such.

Having a rechargeable component within a Remote allows the Remote to bepowered alternately between the main power source and the rechargeablecomponent. This allows the user to remove the Remote from the AC orother power source, allowing the Remote to be powered by therechargeable component, without forfeit of remote operational and/orscreening abilities. Rechargeability also yields, or gives forth to,greater portability and use for the Remote, such that a Remote unit canbe moved from place to place and it need not be limited to anystationary position for its source of power.

A rechargeable component may be of any kind, including electrical ordigital. A rechargeable component may also include rechargeablebattery(ies).

The use of a Remote that includes a connector prong for an AC (or otherpower) outlet can provide a Remote with, depending on embodiment,operating power and recharging power alternately, OR operating power andrecharging power simultaneously so that operating usage can beindefinite even while recharging. By providing a connector prong, aRemote doesn't need recharging in any “home base unit”, as a Remote witha connector prong can have available a constant source of convenientavailable power either by direct power source, including such as that ofconvenient AC outlets and/or phone jack outlets, and/or depending onembodiment: a rechargeable component or standard battery(ies) 263 (FIG.3E). Thereby a Remote is more capable of being consistently usable andcapable of constantly being in more convenient, accessible locationsother than in some bulky, stationary “home base” recharger unit that maybe located in some remote part of the user's home.

Just leaving the Remote plugged into or connected to its power sourceand ON enables the user to not have to physically be at the Remoteduring each telephone call in order to have to activate it, since byleaving it ON, it is already pre-activated. A Remote can bepre-activated (left ON) no matter how it is powered, including such asbeing plugged into its power source, powered by rechargeable component,or powered by standard battery(ies), enabling the user to not have tophysically be at the Remote unit per phone call in order to have toactivate it.

A Remote embodiment may include the ability to be powered by standardbattery(ies) alone or alternately between main power source and standardbattery(ies).

An embodiment of a Remote may include an adapter outlet 235 (FIG. 3D)for receiving power from an adapter source.

FIGS. 3B and 3D show examples of embodiments of possible Remotes thatmay include a clip member or belt clip 250. A clip member can allow forthe ease of a Remote to be placed or attached upon different supportstructures including such as a belt, pocket, or edge, for easytransportation or placement location.

FIG. 3D shows a possible embodiment of a Remote with a possibleinclusion of an aperture or notch 255 whereby a Remote may be hung froma fastener extending from a surface such as a wall.

Another possible embodiment would be for any and/or all the function(s)and capabilities of a Remote to be housed within a telephone (of anykind) receiver's base unit, cradle, or recharger unit, (FIGS. 7A and7B), and equipping these units with external loudspeaker, enabling theseunits with the capability to (externally) audibly screen incoming and/orrecorded calls, and/or remotely operate an answering machine.

Another possible embodiment would be for any and/or all the functionsand capabilities of a Remote to be housed within a telephone's receiverhousing (any kind of telephone receiver, including cordless), forexample, equipping the handset or receiver with an external audiblereceiving loud speaker, (separate from that of the normal audio receiverof the telephone), for audibly external screening use, so that the usermay, for example, set his telephone handset down anywhere, including itscradle/base, and screen his calls, through the telephone handset orreceiver, from across a room or (depending on embodiment, if thetelephone receiver is cordless) carry the telephone handset with him andstill have convenient access to screening his answering machine's callsthrough the telephone handset and, of course, as an added bonus, be nearthe telephone handset should he decide that he wants to talk to thecaller (FIG. 8).

Another possible embodiment would be for any and/or all the functionsand capabilities of a Remote to be housed within both a telephonehandset or receiver housing (of any type of telephone) and also thehousing of its cradle, base, or recharger unit (FIG. 9).

Any and/or all functions and capabilities of a Remote may be housedwithin any type of unit, including such as a TV set (FIG. 10), any partof a computer set (FIG. 11), analog, digital or cellular phone (FIG.12), car phone, etc.

An embodiment of a Remote that is included within the housing of acordless receiver or any type of cordless phone may include audiospeaker venting and also may include ON/OFF control in regards toscreening ability (FIG. 13). The unit is able to externally audiblyscreen calls from an answering machine through the audio speakerventing.

An embodiment of a Remote that is included within the housing of acordless receiver or any type of cordless phone may include a possibleAC prong (FIG. 14), preferably collapsible, shown here in contact withan AC outlet.

A Remote may also include a Caller ID display or vice-versa. Anyembodiment of a Remote can also incorporate or include a Caller IDdisplay or function, example (FIG. 15). Conversely, the audiblescreening functions and/or other remote control functions of a Remotecan also be incorporated into any embodiment of a Caller ID unit or anyembodiment that includes Caller ID. And any Remote function orcapability can be used in conjunction with any Caller ID function.

Any Remote embodiment may include an On/Off switch to control theexternally audible screening loudspeaker (examples include: 200 (FIGS.1D, 4B, 13) and 221 (FIG. 1C). The switch can be left in an “ON” mode atthe user's option, leaving the screening capabilities “ON”, which wouldenable the user to be able to hear and screen the incoming message orcaller from a nearby area, such as across a room, without necessitatingthat a user have to get up and/or physically be at the phone receiver inorder to have to depress or activate any type of code, button, orswitch. Having an On switch that is able to stay “ON” and enables thescreening ability to stay “ON”, eliminates any need for such as thatjust mentioned.

In an embodiment where the Remote is portable, a Remote unit may includeany number of possible attachment methods or sources.

Possible placement of a Remote unit could be anywhere, attached orotherwise, including being placed next to or on the side of anycomputer, or telephone, etc. for convenience.

These and other examples of Remote embodiments make for functioningremote units, devices, or capabilities which can include screeningabilities and/or screening abilities with remote operational or remotecontrol abilities, with which an answering machine has the ability tosupport and interact on such and each function.

The necessary components or circuitry for processing and carrying outthe signals and commands between a main unit and its remote controlcounterpart unit(s) are known in the art of such. The necessarycircuitry or components for processing and carrying out the signals andcommands for remote operation capabilities between units is generallywell known in the art. The necessary components or circuitry forreceiving, represented in FIGS. 3A and 6B by a labeled rectangular box,is well known in the art. The necessary components or circuitry fortransmitting, represented in FIGS. 4A and 6A by a labeled rectangularbox, is well known in the art. The necessary components or circuitry forenabling two-way transmitting and receiving abilities between units areknown in the art. The necessary components or circuitry to carry outwireless interaction between units are known in the art. The circuitryor components used in the present invention to allow for interactionbetween units is generally well known in the art. The necessarycircuitry or components for processing and amplifying signals isgenerally well known in the art.

The features, functions, and capabilities of a Remote can be implementedand/or included into any embodiment, whether it is a self-containedRemote unit, or the features, functions, and/or capabilities of a Remoteare housed within any other type of apparatus, unit, or device. Thefeatures, functions, and capabilities of a Remote may be embodied in anyhousing and in any number or combination.

“Answering machine” is used in this text to mean any answering machine,answering device, or message storage center designed to take and/or holdcallers' messages.

An answering machine may be singularly by itself, may be combined withor into other functions or devices, and/or may be implemented into otherdevices.

An answering device may be any machine, device, service, center, orprocess that takes and/or holds callers' messages.

An answering machine may accommodate any variety of mode changes,signals, functions, and features. An answering machine may include beingsingularly by itself, may include a portable handset receiver, may beincorporated into any other type of unit, etc.

An embodiment of an answering machine may be of any form. It may bebasic, such as the example illustrated in FIG. 6A, or may be of a morecomplicated nature and involve any additional features. The features,functions, and capabilities of an answering machine can be implementedand/or included into any embodiment, whether it be a self-containedunit, or the features, functions, and capabilities of an answeringmachine (in any number or combination) are housed within any other typeof apparatus, machine, unit, or device, including such as thosementioned earlier for Remotes.

The following of some of many possible answering machine features aredescribed and/or shown collectively in some drawings but are notrestricted to such or any specific number, combination, or housing. Theymay be embodied alone, in many of any combinations, together indifferent combinations, and/or collectively together.

A possible embodiment of an answering machine may include multiplechannels or frequencies that may, depending on embodiment, automaticallyscan and adjust to best frequency for use with Remotes, and/or mayinclude a manipulable channel/frequency selector/switch, located on ananswering machine 110 (FIG. 6B), for uses such as those describedearlier for Remotes.

FIG. 6B shows a possible embodiment of an answering machine thatincludes such possible variable features such as a manipulable On/OffRemote-override switch 100. A Remote-override switch on an answeringmachine can provide an override to any power or remote control functionsand/or screening functions to or from a Remote. Turning Off aRemote-override switch allows the user to shut down (turn Off) anyinteraction between an answering machine and Remote(s) without the userhaving to turn Off an answering machine's own On/Off control switch. Theadded control of a Remote-override feature thereby provides the userwith ultimate control with concerns to his privacy in regards to anyunauthorized screening or manipulation of his answering machine by orthrough a Remote. Manipulating a Remote-override switch that may beembodied on an answering machine does not interfere with the operableuse of an answering machine's capabilities and functions.

FIG. 6B shows a possible embodiment of an answering machine that mayinclude any number of indicator light LEDs (light emitting diodes),possibly including an LED 105 for such use as to indicate to the userthat the capabilities to interact with a Remote are either On (example:lit) or Off (example: not lit). An LED could also, depending onembodiment, be used as an indicator, by being lit or by flashing, thatsomeone is accessing an answering machine by way of Remote.

The interaction capabilities between an answering machine and Remote(s)are preferably such that a sizable range of distance is attainable. Asizeable range of distance leads to convenience and, e.g., helps toaccommodate large homes, places of business, and/or possible outdoorplacement of Remote(s).

The circuitry used in the present invention to allow for suchinteraction between units is generally well known in the art.

An embodiment of an answering machine may include an internal (orexternal) antenna 115 (FIGS. 2 and 6B) to enhance distance, and/orsound, and/or frequency.

A preferred embodiment of an answering machine would be for its audibletransmitting capabilities to Remotes to be independent of an answeringmachine unit's own regular volume control. With highly sensitivemicrophone/transmitting signals, of which the circuitry components usedfor processing such are generally well known in the art oftransmittance, an answering machine may pick up and transmit a caller'svoice to a Remote even though the answering machine unit's own volumelevel may be turned down low or to its lowest setting with no ill effecton the audible transmission of sound to Remote(s), which, depending onembodiment, may also have their own independent volume control. Thisallows the user the option to keep the volume of the answering machine“low” or “off” in the room or area where it is located, allowing a userto have quietness in this room or area, yet still be able to keepaudible transmitting abilities to the Remote(s). For example, if oneperson wants to take a nap in his bedroom and the answering machinehappens to be located in that bedroom, he can turn down the volume ofhis answering machine so that he will not be awakened by any callscoming through the answering machine, still keeping the audibletransmitting abilities so that others in the same household can still beable to screen their calls by way of Remote(s) that are placed or beingkept in other rooms of the house.

An embodiment of an answering machine unit may include a Remote locatorbutton/call switch 135 (FIG. 6B) which, when activated, will signal analarm sound in the Remote(s) should the user be unable to locate theRemote. One or any possible LED in a Remote may also blink or light upin response to the activation of the Remote locator button. The userwill then have no trouble finding the Remote(s) if they happen to havebeen misplaced or if he has forgotten where he placed it/them.

An answering machine may be manufactured to be programmable for use withRemotes or accept programmable Remotes. This could, in the case where a“code” is needed, or there is a predetermined matching “code” between(answering machine and Remotes) units already purchased, alsoaccommodate for the purchase and use of Remotes or additional Remotes(that then can be programmed to match the “code” of the alreadypurchased answering machine), at a later date than the original purchaseof the answering machine.

Answering machines may be manufactured in different ways to work orinteract with Remotes, including: being manipulable, and/or beingpre-manufactured to work with Remote, and/or being programmable to workwith Remotes.

The necessary circuitry to enable these embodiments is generally wellknown in the art.

FIG. 16 shows a remote call screening system including an answeringmachine or system 300 with multiple “mailboxes” 348 for storing messagesand multiple Remote units 308, 318 for monitoring incoming messages andfor replaying previously recorded messages. This embodiment of thepresent invention is particularly useful for households or offices withmultiple users of the remote call screening system. In addition, itfacilitates the use of one remote call screening system for multipleuses at one location, for example for using one telephone system forscreening both home office and household phone calls. Calls forwardedfrom other locations can also be screened using the same remote callscreening device. The features of this embodiment of the invention maybe combined with any of the features of any of the embodimentspreviously described. The answering machine 300 connects to an incomingtelephone line 328, which may be configured to include a singletelephone line, two telephone lines or multiple telephone lines. Theanswering machine 300 may be connected with one or more telephones (notshown), either directly or using wireless connections. Alternatively,one or more standard or cordless telephones may be built into theanswering machine 300 and/or into the Remote units 308, 318.

The answering machine 300 is configured with multiple “mailboxes” 348for receiving and storing voice messages. The multiple “mailboxes” 348may be accomplished by segregating recorded messages within a recordingor storage device, such as an analog or digital electronic storagedevice, for example a random access memory (RAM), recordable CD ROM orDVD, or flash memory device. Alternatively, multiple “mailboxes” 348 maybe implemented using tape recording devices, such as by using a separatecassette or microcassette recorder for each of the “mailboxes” 348. Anynumber of “mailboxes” 348 may be implemented. In the exemplaryembodiment of FIG. 16, the answering machine 300 is shown with five“mailboxes” 348. Preferably, the answering machine 300 includesoperational controls 350 for operating the answering machine and aspeaker 352 for listening to recorded messages as well as for monitoringincoming calls. In addition, the answering machine 300 includes amicrophone 332 and a record button 354 for recording a greeting,outgoing message or memo in the answering machine 300. The microphone332 may also be used for intercom communications with the Remote units.

The answering machine 300 automatically answers each incoming call. Aprerecorded greeting or outgoing message on the answering machine 300directs callers to select their choice of “mailboxes” 348 by indicatinga number or a name using the keypad of their phone or a computer orother device or by voice commands. The answering machine 300 thendirects the incoming call to the selected “mailbox” 348. In addition, aseparate prerecorded greeting or outgoing message may be associated witheach of the “mailboxes” 348. The “mailboxes” 348 may each be assigned toa different user or to a different purpose, such as to separatehousehold phone calls from office or business phone calls. For thisdescription, the multiple “mailboxes” 348 will be referred to nominallyas “mailbox 1”, “mailbox 2”, etc. Preferably, the answering machine 300includes a visual display, such as an LED display 302, to indicate theoperating status of the answering machine 300 and how many messages arerecorded in each “mailbox” 348, as well as to show which “mailbox” theincoming call is being routed to. It may also identify the intendedrecipient by name or other designation. In addition, the answeringmachine 300 may include a caller identification feature, which may shownthe caller's phone number and/or name or organization on the visualdisplay 302.

Simultaneously, as the incoming call is being recorded, a transmitter306 in the answering machine 300 transmits the incoming call to one ormore Remote units. (Additional transmitters 306 may be included to allowsimultaneous transmission of more than one incoming message when theanswering machine 300 is configured to operate with multiple incomingtelephone lines 328 or with multiple calls multiplexed on a singleincoming phone line or fiberoptic cable. Optionally, multiple receivers330 may be included in the answering machine 300 to allow simultaneousreception of transmissions from multiple Remote units. The system canalso be configured to screen incoming calls while engaged on anothertelephone call, for example in order to prioritize the calls. Inaddition, the system can be configured to screen calls while the line isotherwise engaged, such as while the line is being occupied by aninternet connection. This can provide an audible call waiting function,which can supplement a caller identification feature.) For illustrativepurposes, the system of FIG. 16 is shown with a first Remote unit 308and a second Remote unit 318. The system may include multiple additionalRemote units for multiple users. Each of the Remote units 308, 318 has areceiver 310, 320, which is configured to receive messages on one ormore selected channels or frequencies. Optionally, multiple receivers310 may be included in the Remote units 308, 318 to allow simultaneousreception of transmissions from multiple answering machines. Preferably,each Remote unit 308, 318 includes remote channel selector switches 314,324 that allows each of the users to select which of the “mailboxes” 348their Remote unit will monitor (e.g. “mailbox 1”, “mailbox 2”,“mailboxes 1 and 2”, etc.) Alternatively or additionally the answeringmachine 300 may include answering machine channel selector switches 304or other means for selecting or programming which Remote unit willreceive incoming calls for which “mailbox” on the answering machine 300.Preferably, the answering machine 300 also includes a mode selectorswitch 346, which may include a remote function ON/OFF switch and aremote-override function for preventing transmission of incomingmessages to one or more of the Remote units 308, 318 and/or from one ormore of the “mailboxes”.

Each of the Remote units 308, 318 is configured with a speaker 312, 322for audibly emitting each incoming call as it is being recorded by theanswering machine 300. This allows each user to monitor and screenincoming calls to the selected “mailboxes” 348 as they are beingreceived. Optionally, the Remote units may also include a visual display360, 362 for displaying such information as a caller identificationfeature, the operating mode, how many messages are in the selected“mailboxes” 348, which “mailbox” the incoming call is being routed to,etc. If one of the users chooses to answer an incoming call, he or shemay interrupt the answering machine 300 by picking up a telephone (notshown) on the answering machine 300, on one of the Remote units 308, 318or connected to the incoming telephone line 328. Other devices, e.g. acomputer or a web or internet interface device, may also be used toanswer an incoming call or message and interrupt the answering machine300.

Optionally, one or more of the Remote units 308, 318 may include remoteoperational controls 316, 326 for remotely operating the answeringmachine 300, to play back recorded messages from one or more of the“mailboxes” 348 or to change its operating modes. In addition, theRemote units 308, 318 may also include a microphone 336, 342 andrecording switch 356, 358 to record messages in one of the “mailboxes”348, to record memos or outgoing messages, and/or for intercomcommunications with the answering machine 300 or another Remote unit,etc. In such case, the Remote units 308, 318 will each be configured toinclude a transmitter 334, 340 and the answering machine 300 willinclude a receiver 330 to permit two-way communication between theRemote units 308, 318 and the answering machine 300. Preferably, each ofthe Remote units 308, 318 also includes a mode selector switch 338, 344,for selecting the call screening function between OFF, ON and ACTIVE ONmodes. The mode selector switch 338, 344 may also includes aremote-override function for preventing transmission of incomingmessages to one or more of the Remote units 308, 318. Alternatively, theremote-override function may be implemented with a separate switch.Additional controls may include a power switch, volume control, etc.

In an alternative embodiment of the system, each of the Remote units maybe preconfigured to receive incoming and recorded messages only on oneor more preselected channels or frequencies or otherwise programmed toreceive incoming and recorded messages from and/or to transmit to one ormore preselected “mailboxes”. In another alternative embodiment of thesystem, some of the Remote units may be preconfigured to receiveincoming and recorded messages only from one or more preselected“mailboxes” and one or more “master” Remote units may be configured toallow a parent, employer or system administrator to monitor any and allof the “mailboxes” 348. Each of the “mailboxes” may include an accesscode or personal identification number for security and to preventunauthorized listening to messages in individual “mailboxes” from theRemote units and/or the answering machine. If desired, the “master”Remote unit may include a master remote-override switch or a “privacy”control to prevent sensitive messages from being monitored or playedback by some or all Remote units. The remote-override switches may beactivated ahead of time to prevent all calls from being monitored on oneor more channels, or it may be activated by the user at the momentprivacy is desired.

The system of FIG. 16 may be made expandable to accommodate additional“mailboxes” and Remote units. For security, the answering machine andeach of the Remote units may be provided with a “family code” so thatonly devices with a matching “family code” will operate with them. Whennew or other Remote units are added to the system, they may beprogrammed with the matching “family code” so that they will operatewith the rest of the system.

FIG. 17 shows an embodiment of the present invention which is in theform of an integrated device 400 that combines the functions of acordless telephone receiver with those of an answering machine and callscreening Remote unit. The integrated device 400 includes a handset 402and a base unit 404. FIG. 18 shows a rear view of the handset 402 ofFIG. 17. The base unit 404 includes a telephone line 406, a transmitter410, a receiver 412 and an antenna 416 for receiving incoming telephonecalls and communicating them to the handset 402. Preferably, the baseunit 404 also includes a power cord 408, a transformer 418 and anelectrical connector 414 for recharging the handset 402.

The handset 402 includes a speaker 420, a loudspeaker 421 a microphone422, a numeric keypad 424, a transmitter 428, a receiver 438 and anantenna 436 for functioning as a cordless telephone and communicatingwith the base unit 404. In addition, the handset 402 includes atelephone answering device 440 that includes a recording device, such asa flash memory or similar components for recording incoming and outgoingmessages. A rechargeable battery 432 powers the handset. A powerconnector 444 connects the battery 432 to the transformer 418 forrecharging when the handset 402 is rested on the base unit 404.Alternatively, the transformer 418 and a retractable power plug 442 orother power connector can be integrated with the battery 432 in thehandset 402. Operational controls 430 are provided for operating thetelephone answering device 440 to play back recorded messages and allanswering machine capabilities. Optionally, the telephone answeringdevice 440 may include multiple “mailboxes” for storing incomingmessages, as described above. The telephone answering device 440 alsoincludes a mode selector switch 434, for selecting the call screeningfunction between OFF, ON and ACTIVE ON modes and the speaker functionbetween loudspeaker and privacy screening modes. When operating inloudspeaker screening mode, the incoming call is amplified and audiblyemitted through loudspeaker 421 so that it can be heard from a distance.When operating in privacy screening mode, the incoming call is routed tospeaker 420 so that only the user can hear the incoming call by placingan ear close to the speaker 420. Alternatively, one speaker 420 can beused for both loudspeaker and privacy modes by amplifying the incomingcall when operating in loudspeaker mode. The mode selector switch 434may also include a screening-override function for preventingunauthorized screening of incoming or recorded messages. Preferably, thehandset 402 includes a visual display 426 for displaying suchinformation as a caller identification feature, the operating mode, howmany messages are recorded in the telephone answering device 440 and/orwithin each of the “mailboxes”, alphanumeric messages, etc. When thecall screening function is set in ACTIVE ON mode and the speaker 420 isset in loudspeaker mode, the user can monitor all incoming calls in ahands-free manner. If the user chooses to answer the incoming call, thetelephone answering device 440 can be interrupted by switching on thetelephone function to answer the call. Optionally, the handset 402 mayhave a speakerphone function that can be used for hands-free calling. Inan alternative embodiment, the handset 402 may operate with cellularphone technology, eliminating the need for the base unit 404. Alternatepositions for the mode selector switch 434′, visual display 426′ andoperational controls 430′ are shown in FIG. 18.

FIGS. 19A–19F show pictorial schematics of various embodiments andsystems of a call screening device according to the present invention.FIG. 19A illustrates a call screening system with a device 500, such asa computer, an internet interface device or WEB TV device, with aninternal answering system 524 for telephone messages, voice mail and/ore-mail and an outwardly audible screening device. Text messages, such ase-mail or alphanumeric pager messages, may be converted to speech to beaudibly emitted by the call screening system with the aid of a speechsynthesizer. This call screening system may be used alone or inconnection with other remote screening devices. (Systems of a callscreening device including such as FIG. 19A may also include) With orwithout “outside” buttons to control: ex. on/off, rewind, forward,record, without having to operate by keyboard or mouse. Being ableto/and/or leaving screening switch “on” can enable a user to screen (ex.outwardly audible) his computer's “live” incoming calls that areconcurrently being recorded onto the computer's answering system. Theuser could “listen in” on calls being currently left (which he otherwisecouldn't before) and then decide to take the live caller. As illustratedin FIG. 19B, the device 500 may interface via direct or wirelessconnections with other devices, such as another computer or WEB TVdevice 502, a portable computer or personal digital assistant 504, suchas a PALM PILOT, a cell phone 506, a cordless phone 508, and/or ahousehold appliance 510, such as a refrigerator, which is integratedwith or otherwise functions as a remote call screening device. Acomputer is capable of having a built in phone/and answering system init. The answering system (built in) would be able to transmit (howeverway) to whatever is the remote screening system. (ex, a portable phone,a cell phone, web TV) and it could do this wirelessly, and/or throughAC, and/or DSL, and/or Cable. The remote screening systems should havethe ability to receive screen (whatever way) built into their system.This same can also be accomplished with the “starting point” being ananswering service or device. (Systems of a call screening deviceincluding such as FIG B may also include) (There may be) a switch topick which Remote/Appliance will screen. FIG. 19C shows a cordless phone508 integrated with a remote call screening device. (Systems of a callscreening device including such as FIG. 19C) may also include screeningswitch and/or remote operational buttons. FIG. 19D shows a cell phone506 integrated with a remote call screening device. (Systems of a callscreening device including such as FIG. 19D) may also include screeningswitch and/or remote operational buttons. FIG. 19E shows another variantof the call screening system with an answering machine 520 and/or ananswering service or voice mail service 522, which may interface viadirect or wireless connections with a remote call screening device 524and/or other devices, such as a computer 500, WEB TV device 502, a cellphone 506 and/or a cordless phone 508, which is integrated with orotherwise functions as a remote call screening device. (Systems of acall screening device including such as FIG. 19E) may also includeleaving voice message, then the computer types it out, (and) can (also)translate back to voice to let it have outwardly audible screening also.Sometimes (an) email (can) have an unpredictable delay, but that's ok,(as the system of a call screening device can still) have the “hear it”(outwardly audible) ability.

Any of the embodiments of the present invention described herein canalso be adapted for audibly emitting and screening other types ofmessages, for example voice mail, internet or e-mail voice mail, instantmessages, pager messages and e-mail. These messages may be receivedthrough a regular telephone line or other sources, such as the Internet,World Wide Web, cellular or satellite telephone or data transmissions,VoIP (voice over internet protocol), DSL (digital subscriber lines),television cable, etc. Text messages, such as e-mail, faxes oralphanumeric pager messages, may be converted to speech to be audiblyemitted and screened by the Remote unit or a speaker on the answeringmeans with the aid of a speech synthesizer. One application that canbenefit from the features of the present invention is mobile computing.New on-board vehicle navigation, communication and infotainment systems,such as ONSTAR or VIRTUAL ADVISOR, have been developed that allowcommunication from cars and other vehicles. As illustrated in FIG. 19F,a remote call screening device 530 can be combined with the on-boardcommunication system, to audibly emit incoming and recorded telephonemessages, voice mail, e-mail, pager messages and the like. Hands-freevoice activated telephone service and internet connections may also beincorporated for use in combination with the other features of theinvention. With hands-free operation and speech synthesis of textmessages, the remote call screening device 530 facilitates communicationand helps to avoid driver distraction.

Although the present invention has been described using two-way radiocommunication between the answering machine or base unit and the Remoteunits, other wireless communications methods can also be used. Forexample, infrared wireless connections can be used between the answeringmachine or base unit and the Remote units. Likewise, other wirelessconnection protocols, such as the Bluetooth communication protocol, maybe used. Alternatively, a house or building's electrical wiring systemcan also be used for communication between the answering machine and theRemote units and other appliances. Connections between units and/or withthe internet may be implemented using HOMEPLUG power line networking.The answering machine and each of the Remote units can connect to thewiring system through their power cords for receiving power, as well asfor sending and receiving communication signals. One way this can beimplemented is using a high-pass filter in each device to separate thecommunication signals from the alternating current power signal. Usingthis system, a Remote unit can be plugged into an electrical outletanywhere in the building for connection to the answering machine. Otherelectronic components, such as a computer for receiving e-mail andperforming speech synthesis, can be connected to the answering machineand Remote units through the wiring system in a similar way. This systemoffers flexibility, but avoids potential security issues that couldarise using radio transmissions which can be monitored from outside ofthe building.

The present invention may also embody visual video screening, whereinthe user has the option to visually screen an incoming visual or videomessage from their unit or remote unit while the incoming visual orvideo message is being received without the caller or sender of theincoming visual or video message knowing that he or his message is beingscreened.

As the present invention already includes and may embody screening bothvoice and/or text, and may include the ability to convert an incomingtext call into speech in order to audibly screen and/or the ability toconvert an incoming speech call into text in order to visually read toscreen, the present invention may also be useful for people who arehearing impaired and the people with whom they communicate whether theymay be hearing impaired or not, wherein the hearing impaired calledperson may also find it useful to screen their calls or messages withoutthe caller or sender of the incoming message knowing that his message isbeing screened and have the option to connect with the incoming callershould the hearing impaired called person decide while screening thatthe incoming call or message is important enough that they would like toengage in a conversation with the caller.

A further embodiment of the present invention would allow for a bettersystem by which people who are hearing impaired or deaf may communicatewith others that are also hearing impaired and yet also still be to beable to communicate with those that are not hearing impaired, andvice-versa. An embodiment may include and allow that a computer and/orphone, with phone or Internet access, including such as a land line,DSL, broadband, cable, modem, Internet, satellite, wireless capabilitiesand/or access, including such as cellular, and may or may not include orengage such as that of a TTY system, may be used for such communication.A computer keyboard, for example, would allow the hearing impairedperson to type, in either long hand or shorthand, his portion of theconversation, it would then be converted to speech whereby a non-deafperson could option to receive the incoming text as text and/or speech.The non-deaf person could have the option of speaking his portion of theconversation into a receiver and having his conversation converted totext, whereby the hearing impaired person could have the option toreceive the incoming portion of the conversation as text and/orstreaming video or streaming text upon a visual screen or monitorincluding, for example, such as his computer's monitor.

The system may include such features as an answering system or machinethat has the capability to answer the incoming text or voice messagessent to the hearing-impaired person when that person is unable topersonally answer the incoming message, and record and save them in theform of text. And/or the system may include such capabilities as ananswering system or machine that answers the incoming messages from ahearing-impaired person that may be incoming in the form of text andrecords them for the non-hearing impaired person in the form of textand/or converted speech. Such embodiments may also include such as LEDindicators to indicate that messages have been received and the amountof messages received.

As technology proceeds further there will be more use oftelecommunication devices that include the communication of visualimages, including such as video-messaging, video-mail, video-Email,video-teleconferencing, and video-phones. There is a need for a way toanswer and take the message from such incoming visual telecommunicationwhen the called person is unavailable to personally answer such.

A further embodiment of the present invention may provide for a way toanswer and take a message for such incoming visual telecommunication,including such as visually-taped-mail, video-mail, video-voice-mail, orvideo phone-mail (henceforth referred to simply as video-mail orvideo-messaging) when the called person is unavailable to personallyanswer such.

One way the present invention may provide for such is to include anembodiment of a video-mail capturing system or centralized video-mailstation or system that picks up, answers, and records video-mailmessages through a capturing system or a central station or system, muchlike that of a voice-mail system that picks up, answers, and recordsincoming telephone calls when the called person is unable to personallyanswer, yet wherein an embodiment of a video-mail capturing system or acentralized video-mail station or system accepts, or also accepts,video-mail.

In addition, the present invention may also include an embodiment of ananswering machine that picks up, answers, and records, video-mailmessages much like that of a telephone answering machine picks up,answers and records incoming telephone calls, yet wherein an embodimentof a video-mail answering machine accepts, or also accepts, video-mail.

Either type of embodiment may also include the ability to also pick upand answer and record that of other types of communication, includingsuch as voice, text, fax, picture-messaging, email, or streaming videotext.

Any embodiment of a video-mail message capturing or answering system,including centralized or that of a base machine unit, may be used withor incorporated with that of any type of communication means or device,including such as mobile or cellular phones, cell phones with internetinterface, internet phones, PDA's, PDA's with internet interface,internet interface, landline phones of either standard or cordless,computers, videophones, television, vehicle mobile computing includingsuch as vehicle on-board navigation, communication and infotainmentsystems including such as On-star or Virtual Advisor, and other types ofremote units or communication devices including those that mayincorporate, go through or utilize such as including the Internet,cable, Dish, satellite, DSL, global positioning satellite, video phonelines, landline lines. And all embodiments may preferably include theoption to also accept voice and/or text messages.

And as technology proceeds even further with the use of suchtelecommunication or video/telecommunications that can include at leasta two-way visual representation of conversation between users oftelecommunication or video/telecommunications devices, there is a needfor the screening of incoming video-mail or video messaging callswithout the incoming caller or sender of the video-mail or video messageof a video/telecommunications device knowing that their call is beingscreened by the user of another such type of device or remote unit.

The present invention includes an embodiment of a video-mail capturingsystem or a centralized video-mail message station or system that picksup and answers video-mail messages, and/or an embodiment of that of ananswering machine that picks up and answers video-mail messages, canalso be embodied with the additional capability to be able to visuallyscreen the content of an incoming video message or video call while theincoming video message is still being sent by the caller or sender ofthe video message, wherein the person who is being called has the optionto be able to visually screen and view the incoming video message orvideo call from his communication's device or remote unit without thecaller or sender of the incoming video message knowing that they ortheir incoming video message or video call is being screened, allowingthe called person the ability to ascertain and decide if the incomingmessage is important enough to establish a connection with the caller orsender of the incoming video-message or video call while the caller orsender is still leaving the video-message and while it is still beingreceived and recorded by the screening apparatus. This video-message orvideo call screening mode would include the ability that even if thecalled person's means or medium of telecommunication also includes acamera for videoing his portion or side of a communication orconversation, for example such as a video phone or video mobile phoneunit, the called person could option to shut off, or keep off, his owntelecommunication's camera's viewing or videoing ability so that theincoming screened caller would not be able to see or view the calledperson through or via the called person's telecommunication's camerawhile the incoming caller's incoming call or message is being left andscreened. The called person may at any point of screening the incomingvideo-message then option to establish a connection with the incomingcaller of the incoming video-message and converse or communicate withthe incoming caller by whatever is the called person's communicationmedium.

Depending on the called person's communication medium or device, thecalled person may opt to and be able to converse or communicate with thecaller visually, including by such as his telecommunication's camera,such as on a video phone, video wireless phone unit, or web-cam, byswitching back on his camera's viewing or videoing ability so that theincoming caller may then see the called person, and/or via text(including streaming video text), and/or audibly.

Embodiments of a video-mail answering system, or that of a video-mailanswering machine, may also include the capability to turn off any audioand/or text portion of a video-message that may accompany that of thevideo-message, leaving only the video portion of the video-message on,with the option to do this while screening an incoming video-message orwhile replaying a recorded video-message.

Embodiments of a video-mail answering system or video-mail answeringmachine may also include the capability to turn off the video portion ofa video-message that may also include audio and/or text, leaving onlythe audio portion and/or a text portion of a message on, with the optionto do this while screening an incoming video-message or while replayinga recorded video-message.

Embodiments of a video-mail answering system, or that of a video-mailanswering machine, may also include that of a remote pick-up functionwherein accessing communication with the caller or sender of theincoming message will terminate the recording of the video-mail or videomessage.

Embodiments of a video-mail answering system, or that of a video-mailanswering machine, may also include the ability to record the incomingcaller's video-mail or video message conversation or communication oncecommunication has already taken place with the called person withouthaving to terminate the recording of the incoming caller's videoconversation or message, wherein the user is able to record or keeprecording the incoming caller's video-message or conversation, and/orjust portions of the video-message or conversation, such as that of anaudio, text, or just the visual video portion. This recording processmay also include more than one direction of recording the communicationor conversation, for example, two-way or three-way communication.

Embodiments of a video-mail answering system or that of a video-mailanswering machine may also include the capability for “call forwarding”,ex. from home number to mobile phone and vice-versa or the like.

In addition, there is a need for a way to answer an incomingtelecommunication, including such as a mobile or cell phone call (whichmay include such as incoming video-mail call, voice call, or text call)when the called person is perhaps expecting a really important call thatneeds to be personally answered yet at the moment the caller is not inthe opportune or appropriate place to take such a call when the callarrives. A further embodiment of the present invention would allow for abetter system by which to do such.

An embodiment of the present invention may provide for a messagecapturing system (including such as a voice-mail message capturingsystem or the present invention of a video-mail capturing system ormachine), and/or a message answering machine, with the capability to beable to put an incoming call, including such as incoming video-mailcall, voice call, or text call, to including such as a mobile phone,into an “initial partial hold queue” status wherein, for example, thecalled person may be in a group meeting and may be unable to immediatelypersonally answer the incoming call right at that particular momentwithout a disruption of the meeting by the called person answering andgreeting such call and the called person asking the caller to hold on aminute while he (the caller) steps out into the hallway. The calledperson could pre-program the answering system of his telecommunicationdevice, including such as a mobile or cellular phone, or at the quiettouch of a button, put an incoming call into the “partial hold queue”status whereby there would be an outgoing announcement or such to theincoming caller stating or indicating to the incoming caller that thecalled person has answered the incoming call and would be with thecaller momentarily, asking the incoming caller to hold momentarily. Thisfeature would, for example, allow the called person the time to quietly,and with decorum and propriety, step out of the meeting room and stepinto the hall to answer the incoming call in a less disruptive way so asnot to disturb or interrupt the meeting, and in addition would allow theuser to find a more private environment to take the call in, as well.

If an incoming call was very imperative and time was of-the-essence,this feature and capability could possibly avert a caller from having toleave a message and the called person from having to later retrieve themessage, leaving perhaps an urgent or critical matter to temporarily gounattended or a significant opportunity to be missed. This could alsocircumvent a missed call should the call or caller not be of the type ornature to even leave a message.

This capability may also include a default feature wherein there may bea pre-determined “hold-time” wherein if the call in the “partial holdqueue” status is left holding a pre-determined amount of time withoutthe user having yet taken the call personally, then the call wouldautomatically be routed to the message-taking system where the callerwould be invited to leave a message, including such as a voice-mail,video-mail, or text message.

There may also include a feature that lets an incoming caller that hasbeen put into the “partial hold queue” status to by-pass the “partialhold queue” status and go straight to the message-taking system shouldthe caller decide he would rather leave a message than to hold, orcontinue to hold, momentarily.

As most telecommunication devices have a Caller-ID feature, a user coulduse a combination of Caller-ID with the “partial hold queue” capabilitywith discrimination as to whom he wished to put into the “partial holdqueue”. And the user's telecommunication device, or it's answeringsystem or answering machine, could be pre-programmed and set to activatethis feature for either a specific incoming call or for all incomingcalls, or it may be activated per incoming call.

Furthermore, the present invention may also utilize the audible and/orvisual screening of an incoming call (including for such as an incomingvideo message, incoming audible message, and/or incoming text message)in combination with the present invention's “partial hold queue”capability, allowing the called person to actually hear and/or see thecontent of the incoming call or message before he decides whether or notto put the incoming caller into the “partial hold queue”.

FIG. 20 shows a possible embodiment and system of a video call screeningdevice, the embodiment including a mobile or wireless phone 600including a video camera 602, partial hold queue activator 604, incomingvideo screening activator 606, video message activator 608, incomingaudio activator 610, and a speaker 612.

The present invention may also be embodied to include a feature that isan “emergency On activator”, wherein a caller who has a specific code todo such may be able to remotely activate and turn on from histelecommunication device that of the Remote screening device that he iscalling that may otherwise be in an “off” mode, in a silent “no ring”mode, or a “screening Off” mode. This would allow, for example, anincoming caller with an urgent or emergency call to be able to try andstill be able to get the emergency call through to the called personthrough the screener even though the called person may have turned off,or turned down, his Remote Screening device.

An alternate way to do this would be to use “voice recognition” as asecurity, perhaps in addition to or instead of a specific code toactivate an “emergency On activator”. A voice command may be used toremotely turn this feature on and voice recognition could be used forsecurity. Ex, a husband's voice saying “Screener on”. Using voicerecognition and command should make it easy to eliminate a caller fromaccessing the “emergency on” should the user ever want to stop a callerfrom accessing it again in the future, for example, just by erasing thatvoice from the memory of the system. Or if there is a code, the usercould just change the code.

There may also include a way to shut down the “emergency On activator”,preventing anyone from being able to activate it remotely.

This “emergency On activator” capability could be made to include theoption to turn on any and/or all the remote screening units, which wouldhelp ensure a greater contact to anyone who might be around any of theremote screeners should there be an emergency.

Once activated, the “emergency On activator” could be made to allowcalls or messages to come through the screener for an ongoing number offuture incoming calls or for a one time activation of this feature.

An “emergency On activator” feature may be used with any type ofscreener, including voice, text, and/or video-mail screener.

The present invention may also be embodied to include that a satelliteis the message capturing means that not only captures, answers, andrecords incoming voice messages, text messages and/or video messages,much like a voice mail system answers or captures voice messages, butthat may also have the ability to send out, disperse and transmit orbroadcast such messages, and any info relating to the message capturingmeans and/or such messages, to a remote answering device and/or remotescreening device relating to, or belonging to, a particular user or tothat of a particular family code, with the capability to disperse themessages out to any or all remote answering devices and/or remotescreening devices, singularly or simultaneously, of or belonging to thatparticular user or family code. Again, a remote answering device and/orremote screening device may include such as a computer, web TV, phone,mobile or cell phone, vehicle mobile computing system or vehicleon-board communication system, and PDA. This would allow for a user tobe able to receive messages and/or screen messages from anywhere,regardless of the user's location.

A platform software, or application software, may also be made to embodythe capability to be able to do the such as noted above.

The present invention may also be embodied to include that the messageanswering device and/or message screening device includes the capabilityand/or programmability to translate an audible message into a specifiedlanguage. For example, a call coming in and being recorded by a callerin English, may be screened by the user as, or later played back as,Spanish.

The present invention may also be embodied to include that atext-into-speech synthesis capability of a message answering deviceand/or message screening device may also include the capability and/orprogrammability to include such as foreign language or bilingual speechsynthesis of the text message, wherein, for example, a text messagecoming in as English, may be synthesized and audibly screened by theuser as, or later audibly played back by the user as, Spanish.

Any and all embodiments of the present invention may include or beembodied in such form as a platform software, or application software.

Any and all embodiments of the present invention may include any or allof the features as that mentioned above in the specification.

Video message screeners may be manufactured in different ways to work orinteract with different embodiments of remote units.

CONCLUSION, RAMIFICATIONS AND SCOPE

Thus the reader will see that Remotes, having appropriate remoteoperating and/or receiving, and/or transmitting, components orcircuitry, can interact with an answering machine having appropriatecomponents or circuitry, allowing interaction and response betweenanswering machine and Remotes and/or Remote capabilities, providing aconvenient answering machine remote control and/or screening device thatis not limited to a telephone or any single or specific type oftelephone. Nor are Remotes limited to an area such as a “home base unit”for its power/recharging sources. The invention can provide forconvenience, portability, and economy, and is simple such that it can beused by persons of almost any age.

It will be evident to those skilled in the art that a great manyvariants of the foregoing invention are possible.

From above descriptions, it should be apparent that the presentinvention is adapted, and can be adapted, to be used in a variety oflocations and such that the Remotes may remain free-standing, be restedon a horizontal surface, supported from a vertical surface, placed in asupporting structure, housed within and incorporated within other units,etc.

The invention has the advantages in that it, depending on embodiment:

Provides an answering machine outwardly-audible remote screening unit ordevice. Of that which is not limited to the use of a telephone, anycertain or specific type of telephone, or any limited number oftelephones. The screening functions are made available to immediatelyrelay incoming calls outwardly audible to the user via a Remote unit ordevice which allows the user to audibly screen his calls away from hisanswering machine, such as from another room or area. Such that the usercan remotely listen to and screen incoming calls in any and more thanone remote area, while caller is still on the line. Depending onembodiment, the user may have the capability to transport and/or varyplacement of Remotes and/or the option to have multiple placed Remotesin many locales.

Provides an answering machine remote operational device and outwardlyaudible remote screening device of that which is not limited to the useof a telephone, any certain or specific type of telephone, or anylimited number of telephones. Providing mechanisms to allow outwardlyaudible remote screening and the remote operation of an answeringmachine, via a Remote unit or device, accessing and allowing suchpossible functions as including, e.g.; on/off, stop, play (listen),replay, forward, record, etc. Providing remote access to an answeringmachine that possesses appropriate circuitry or components that allowsfor such remote functions to be carried out. The circuitry used for suchoperations is already known in the art. Various operational functions ofan answering machine could be remotely carried out and made available tothe user through a Remote unit or device. For example, the play orlisten function on a Remote would access and play back recorded messagesfrom an answering machine through the Remote outwardly audibly. TheRemote unit or device with remote control abilities would also have theability to remotely screen incoming calls outwardly audibly, immediatelyrelaying incoming calls while a caller is still on the line. A Remote isavailable for the user to use in any, and more than one, remote area ata time, which allows the user the access to the functions of hisanswering machine, away from the answering machine itself, such as fromanother room or area, by way of Remote, and also allows the outwardlyaudible screening of incoming calls to the user, away from his answeringmachine. Depending on embodiment, the user may have the capability totransport and/or vary placement of Remotes and/or the option to havemultiple placed Remotes in many locales.

Provides an answering machine outwardly audible remote screening unit ordevice and/or remote operational and outwardly audible remote screeningunit or device that, for example, in a household or office where morethan one person resides or works, a visual LCD screen on a Caller IDunit cannot provide for the fact that the different family members,housemates, or co-workers cannot possibly know all of the other familymembers' or co-workers' possible assortment of selected Caller IDtelephone numbers or who it is exactly that is calling from thosenumbers.

Provides an answering machine outwardly audible remote screening unit ordevice and/or remote operational and outwardly audible remote screeningunit or device that can be outwardly audibly heard from the Remote unitor device, across a room or distant area, without necessitating the userto search and locate a receiver in order to put it up to his ear to hearand screen the calls as one would have to do with such as that of theScordato patent. Nor does the user of my invention have to get up inorder to be able to get close enough to read a phone number displayed onan LCD screen in order to screen his phone calls, as one would have todo with a Caller ID unit. Nor does the user have to get up to go to theroom where his answering machine is in order to be able to hear thecalls in order to screen them.

Provides an answering machine outwardly audible remote screening unit ordevice and/or remote operational and outwardly audible remote screeningunit or device that can be used by, for example, the whole family,roommates, etc. who can all listen or screen calls simultaneously, awayfrom an actual answering machine unit, while waiting for their ownindividual prospective callers, because a Remote is outwardly audiblefrom a distance. There is no need to put a telephone receiver to onesingle user's ear in order to hear and screen a caller, as one wouldhave to do with the Scordato patent. Nor does one have to be in eyesightof an LCD screen, as one would have to be as such with a Caller ID unit.By the ability to hear and identify whom the incoming call is for, thisprovides not only for the obvious telephone screening uses but this canalso eliminate a user from having to write down a message from a callerafter picking up the telephone and finding that the call is not for himbut for someone else, when otherwise, having known that the call wasn'tfor him, the user would have just let the answering machine pick up thecaller's message.

By providing that the screening ability of a Remote unit or device (thesound coming from a Remote) can be audible a distance from the Remoteitself, and also providing that a Remote can be left in an “On” mode, aRemote unit is capable of being used as a call screener “hands-free”;without the user having to be physically at a Remote in order to put thereceiver up to his ear in order to hear and then screen the call to seeif the call is for him, and without the user having to turn “On” theRemote per incoming call.

Provides an answering machine outwardly audible remote screening unit ordevice and/or remote operational and outwardly audible remote screeningunit or device with the ability to outwardly audibly identify and hearthe incoming caller and, importantly, by hearing the content of theincoming message, the user will learn the purpose of the incoming call,which can alert the user who would otherwise not pick up the phone tosuch as; an important call, an awaited call, a call that needs to bereturned right away, or even an urgent or emergency call, etc. With aRemote, this screening process can be done “hands-free” (as statedabove) and can also be done without the user having to stay transfixedto where his answering machine is in order to selectively screen callswhen he does not want to bother picking up every phone call. The usercan screen his calls from a remote area, a distance away from a Remoteunit or device, and away from his answering machine unit, at hisleisure, and be aware, by screening, of any important call that mighthappen to come through. Should the user then opt to pick up thetelephone at any time, he may.

Provides an answering machine outwardly audible remote screening unit ordevice and/or remote operational and outwardly audible remote screeningunit or device that is able to stay in an active (On) mode withoutnecessitating a user to have to actively get up, search, and locate atelephone receiver in order to activate or depress a signal button orcontrol switch as one would have to do with the Scordato patent. Byeliminating this burdening step, it makes life a little more convenient,saving time and labor.

Can provide an answering machine outwardly audible remote screening unitor device and/or remote operational and outwardly audible remotescreening unit or device that does not require a manufacturerpredetermined matching code between an answering machine and Remote(s),as having a predetermined matching code can, depending on embodiment,limit the purchasing of additional Remotes at a later date.

Can provide an answering machine outwardly audible remote screening unitor device and/or remote operational and outwardly audible remotescreening unit or device with a predetermined matching code between ananswering machine and Remote(s), giving a manufacturer the option toinclude any multiple of corresponding coded Remotes in packaging.Thereby eliminating concerns of purchasing additional Remotes at a laterdate.

Can provide an answering machine outwardly audible remote screening unitor device and/or remote operational and outwardly audible remotescreening unit or device, and/or an answering machine with:channel/frequency selection, automated and/or manipulable for:

a. best reception;

and/or

-   -   b. to avoid possible interference;    -   c. so that other persons in, e.g. the same household, may own        and operate their own individual answering machine units and        Remote units or devices that can set to different channels so as        to avoid interference and also allows for possible interchanging        of units (as described earlier).

Provides an answering machine outwardly audible remote screening unit ordevice and/or remote operational and outwardly audible remote screeningunit or device that can plug directly into a power outlet for a constantsource of power.

Provides an answering machine outwardly audible remote screening unit ordevice and/or remote operational and outwardly audible remote screeningunit or device that does not need recharging in a “home base unit”, asdoes the Scordato telephone receiver/screener which needs recharging inthe cradle of its “home base unit”. Therefore it follows that a Remoteis then capable of being placed in more convenient, remote locations, ortransported to several locations, as its recharging abilities are nottied to where a “home base unit” resides.

Can provide an answering machine outwardly audible remote screening unitor device and/or remote operational and outwardly audible remotescreening unit or device that has the capacity to recharge and yetsimultaneously still maintain operating power so as to still be able tosend, process, and receive transmitted signals so that screening and/orremote operation of an answering machine's functions can be indefinite.This means, that even while a Remote is recharging in or at a powersource, it is still capable of being used, for example, as a screener,as the power source still enables the functions of a Remote to continue.Therefore the user does not have to give up any screening abilities whena Remote unit may be recharging. The same would be true of any remotecontrol abilities of a Remote.

Can provide an answering machine with a Remote-overriding controlswitch, located on an answering machine, which can override a Remote'scapabilities, providing the user with ultimate control over anyRemote(s) in regard to his privacy. This Remote-overriding controlswitch is separate from that of a power control switch of an answeringmachine in such that turning Off or On the Remote-overriding switch doesnot interfere with an answering machine's power and functions.

Can provide an answering machine outwardly audible remote screening unitor device and/or remote operational and outwardly audible remotescreening unit or device with more convenience and ease of portabilitywith such possible embodiments of: small size, direct plug in, screeningand/or remote capabilities available while simultaneously recharging, noneed for “home base unit” for recharging, collapsible prong, clipmember, aperture, etc.

Provides for greater economy, convenience, accessibility, versatility,and inconspicuous placement ability for reasons such as those statedabove.

Additionally, my invention realizes an existing need and an almostuntapped market. What is on the market is relatively unknown,uneconomical, or not practical, and does not provide for all theadvantages that exist in my invention.

Since portable phones can be a relatively expensive purchase, myinvention is more economical than the Scordato patent, as there is nonecessity or requirement for the purchase of a cordless phone, nor anyphone, for that matter. All that is needed is an answering machine,which most people have, especially people who want the ability to screentheir phone calls. A user would be able to use my invention with anyphone, or any combination of phones, that he may already have, as thetype of phone used does not matter. Also, by having an embodiment optionthat makes possible the use and/or inclusion of more than one Remote peranswering machine allows for greater economy and broader usage. There isno need to buy additional telephone receivers or additional telephoneanswering machine-telephone receiver/screener systems (as with theScordato patent), which can be expensive, to broaden the area of remotescreening placement.

Also, there is no need to purchase additional telephone services from atelephone company, as there is for the use of a Caller ID unit.

My invention is also more cost effective for manufacturers as:

Since it is less complicated, a Remote would be cheaper to build, and inturn, should be less expensive than the Scordato invention for consumersto buy. Less expensive means more affordability for the consumer, which,in theory, equals more chance that consumers will purchase.

Most households contain at least one answering machine, especially bypeople who want the ability to screen calls. Most answering machines arereplaced every few years. Therefore, my invention should be easy to sellnot only to consumers, but to manufacturers, as well.

Since, depending on embodiment, more than one Remote per answeringmachine may be purchased by consumers, this is also another potentialselling point to/and for manufactures.

My invention could be made, sold, and utilized for many years throughouta changing technology without becoming outmoded or obsolete. And asstated earlier, my invention (either part: Remote or answering machine),its functions and capabilities, can be implemented and/or included into,with, or within any housing or device. The idea and purpose to audibly,remotely screen calls from an answering device or service and/or haveremote operational access to an answering device, without the use of anytype of phone, can be made to fit any change in technology. Hence, myinvention has a long life cycle potential, which would justify capitalexpenditures for tooling and advertising.

My invention and its capabilities can be implemented or incorporatedinto any type of device or unit (as stated above), including and besidesthat of self-contained Remote units and/or self-contained answeringmachine units. This versatility would not only greatly expand thevariety of ways and locations to use my invention but it would alsoaccommodate change in technologies.

A surprising 37 percent of all Americans screen their phone callsthrough their answering machines, refusing to pick up the receiver untilthey hear who's calling. This statistic, in itself, is enough of aselling point to manufacturers and, obviously, consumers.

While my above description contains many specificities, these should notbe construed as limitations on the scope of the invention, but rather asexemplifications of some of the preferred embodiments thereof. Manyother variations are possible, including, for example:

Remotes can be of various types, including:

Remotes can be of the kind where it is receiver only;

Remotes can be the kind where it also includes remote controloperational capabilities;

Remotes can be of the kind where it also includes a recording ability;

Remotes can be of the kind where it has remote control capabilities andalso remote recording abilities;

Remotes can be of the kind where it has remote control capabilities,remote screening capabilities, and also remote recording abilities;

or include any combination thereof;

Remote units can have other, or any, shapes and/or sizes;

any or all functions and capabilities of a Remote may be incorporatedinto other various units or devices;

any or all functions and capabilities of an answering device oranswering machine may be incorporated into other various units ordevices;

the functions and capabilities of a Remote may be incorporated into awatch or timepiece;

the functions and capabilities of a Remote may accompany various otherunits or devices;

the functions and capabilities of a Remote may be made to interact withvarious other devices or units;

the functions and capabilities of a Remote may be made to work orinteract with voice mail, voice mail centers, message centers, or callcenters, such as that available through phone services;

locations of any features, including such as any LED's, functioncontrols, outlets, prongs, clips, etc. are variable;

an On/Off control switch need not be included on either/or both ananswering machine and/or a Remote;

there need not be a Remote-overriding control switch on an answeringmachine;

there need not be a volume control on a Remote;

On/Off and volume controls may be made combined into one control on aRemote;

a separate volume control on an answering machine may be added tocontrol a Remote's audible level;

indicator LED lights can be added or eliminated, located anywhere,colored differently or the same, blink and/or have steady light;

a single LED light can serve for single or multiple purposes;

shape, including size, of either Remotes and/or answering machines canbe altered;

antennas in/on either Remotes and/or answering machines need not beincluded;

rechargeability component in Remote need not be included;

the transmitter, receiver, answering machine and/or Remote may becontrolled and/or operated by separate sources, such as electronic orcomputer hardware and/or software, and/or run off separate powersources;

Remotes may be run off of various types of power sources, including suchas: rechargeable batteries, standard batteries, a recharging component,a recharging unit, internal charger, external charger, AC current, phonelines, etc. alone, alternately, or in combination;

Remotes may be recharged in a charging base;

channel and/or frequency selection, either manipulable or automatic, oneither Remote and/or answering machine need not be included;

channel selections on either Remote and/or answering machine may beadded;

a Remote may be corded;

a connector prong can be attached to a corded extension;

a corded extension may be retractable;

a connector prong can be stationary (fixed) or moveable (such asretractable or collapsible);

a collapsible connector prong need not be embodied;

a connector prong need not be embodied;

a phone line may be corded;

there may be connectors or inlets on a Remote to connect phones lines toa Remote;

an embodiment of a clip member may include a clip member's upper portionto be slightly bulging outward;

an outward bulge in a clip member together with a possible outward bulgeor pad/stop on a Remote can possibly serve to keep a Remote unitsubstantially parallel to an engaging surface such as a table top or awall outlet. An outward bulge or pad/stop may also be used as protectionfor or from engaging surfaces and/or for better protection from anoutlet source. A pad/stop may also possibly provide a stopping means fora folding or moveable connector prong;

a space between the upper portion of a clip member and the back of aRemote unit can allow for varying thicknesses of different supportstructures;

an embodiment of a Remote unit may possibly include a recessed area thatmay help accommodate a lower portion of a possible clip member whichcould allow for a more secure adherence or attachment to supportstructures;

recessed areas for such things including a connector prong need not beembodied;

a clip member need not be embodied;

outwardly bulging portion of a possible clip member need not beembodied;

spacing between possible clip member and a Remote need not be embodied;

aperture need not be embodied;

a Remote or a clip member may include a magnetized material so that aRemote may be conveniently attached to a metal surface, including suchas that of a refrigerator door;

a surrounding audio venting on Remote need not be embodied;

a two-way system can be incorporated so that an intercom ability orsystem exists between a Remote and another unit (such as that of ananswering machine);

any embodiment of a Remote, or any unit or device that embodies, houses,or includes Remote capabilities and functions may also include remoteoperational abilities and access to an answering machine, and thatremote operational access may also include the ability to externallyaudibly screen pre-recorded messages already left on an answeringmachine;

the Remote interactive capabilities of an answering machine can be madeto run off rechargeable battery(ies); rechargeable battery(ies) in ananswering machine that enable interaction capabilities with a Remote canbe capable of being recharged by the same energy source as the answeringmachine's power supply, thereby eliminating the need for frequentbattery replacement or the need for separate battery recharging;

the Remote interactive capabilities of an answering machine can be madeto run off standard battery(ies);

a Remote need not be embodied to allow such that a telephone's ring, oran alarm signal, be heard through it;

a Remote locator call-switch on an answering machine and/or acorresponding alarm sound and/or LED on a Remote need not be embodied;

a Remote may include a Caller ID display;

a Remote may remain free standing and/or include a number of varioustypes of mounting structures, including, but not limited to, suction,hook-and-loop fasteners, etc.;

receptacles to hold Remote units may be embodied, on which may include avariety of attachment sources, including, but not limited to, doublesided tape, hook-and-loop fasteners, magnetized material, or some otherfeasible attachment method;

a Remote and/or answering machine may incorporate voice scrambling andother eavesdrop securities;

a Remote's functions and capabilities may work with and/or be housedwithin any type of phone, including cellular, digital, analog or anyother type of cordless phone;

a Remote's functions and capabilities that are included within corded,cellular, digital or analog phones can have non-external remotescreening abilities, meaning that the remote audible screening of callscan be heard through the normal receiving ear portion (or venting) ofthe receiver;

a Remote's functions and capabilities can be included within a speakerphone;

a Remote's functions and capabilities that are included within a speakerphone can have the remote audible screening of the calls come throughthe same audio portion (or venting) as does the normal audio portion ofthe speaker phone or separately through its own audio portion (orventing);

an ear piece or earphones can be attached to a Remote for privatescreening use;

a Remote's functions and/or capabilities can be used with phone and/oranswering systems that are already installed or can be installed withincomputer systems;

a Remote's features, functions, and capabilities may be included withina phone handset or receiver, the receiver may be corded or cordless;

in embodiments of a Remote that are included within a phone handset orreceiver, the audio speaker venting (screening portion) may be on theexternal face of the receiver, may surround the receiver, may be on theinternal face of the receiver;

in embodiments of a Remote that are included within a phone handset orreceiver, the external audible screening may come through the samereceiving piece or venting of the receiver as does the normal audioportion of the phone;

a Remote may be manufactured with a corded phone line built in ordetachable (where a phone line can be inserted), or have a phoneconnector prong extending from Remote.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to any preciseform of apparatus or example as noted above, and that various changesand modifications may be made by those skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the scope or the novel concepts of the invention and areto be construed as being within the ambit of the appended claims.

It is a purpose of the instant application to provide a way to screenand enlarge an incoming visual or video message communication, allowinga called person to more comfortably view to screen the incoming visualor video message communication and more easily discern who and what isbeing presented in the incoming visual or video message communication,yet still be able to keep the size and weight of the communication unitdiminutive.

The present invention includes the capability to visually screen byprojection incoming visual or video communication calls and/or messagesfrom a communication device, or answering unit, while the visual orvideo calls or messages are still incoming or while the caller or senderstill has a link with the communication system, so that a user (thecalled person) may see (by projected display) who is calling or sendingthe incoming call or message and what it is they are communicating.

Communications units, in the present invention, may include such astelephones, home-base type telephones, portable cordless telephones,corded telephones, home-base type video phones or video phone answeringmachines, cordless video phones, communication equipment with internetand/or telephone video capabilities including such as VoIP, wirelessmobile or cellular video phones, wireless mobile or cellular cameraphones, home-base type camera phones or camera phone answering machines,wireless mobile or cellular telephones, communication equipment such ascomputers or laptop computers or notebooks, PDAs (personal digitalassistants), any portable communication unit with internet access and/ortelephone and/or modem ability, any communication unit portable orotherwise with or that includes the ability for type or text input andtransmission including such as TTY, any communication unit with internetaccess and/or telephone and/or modem ability, or any combination devicethat may also include any of the such, for example including such as aPDA with telephone receiver, PDA with internet access and ability,wireless mobile or cellular telephones with internet access and ability,portable communications device with keyboard apparatus, etc. . . .

For the purpose of illustration only, the present invention will mostlyrefer to wireless mobile/cellular telephones or PDAs, each having atleast one or both of telephony receiver capabilities and/or internetaccess and ability, and both with the ability to receive or view visualcalls and messages and/or video calls or video messaging of videocommunication. Visual calls may also include any kind of text calls,including such as text messaging calls, text calls, streaming textcalls, and TTY calls.

It is an advantage of the present invention to provide a new andimproved communications unit or system that allows projected screeningof incoming visual or video calls or messages from an incoming caller ofsender who is still leaving a message that is being recorded, oranswered and recorded, or who is still linked to the communicationsystem upon leaving a message, wherein there is embodied an image ormoving-image projection means integrated at least partially within acommunication unit and/or integrated at least partially within ananswering machine. This may include communication units including suchas wireless mobile phones, PDAs, computers, cordless phones whereinthere is embodied an image or moving-image projection means integratedat least partially within the communication unit

It is an advantage of the present invention to provide a new andimproved communications answering unit that allows projected screeningof incoming visual or video calls or messages from an incoming caller ofsender who is still leaving a message that is being recorded, oranswered and recorded or who is still linked to the communication systemupon or after leaving a message, wherein there is embodied a projectionmeans integrated at least partially within an answering unit, includingsuch as an answering machine-type unit.

It is an advantage of the present invention to provide a new andimproved visual or video communications answering system that allows forthe projected screening of incoming visual or video calls or messagesfrom an incoming caller of sender who is still leaving a message that isbeing recorded, or answered and recorded or who is still linked to thecommunication system upon or after leaving a message.

An answering system may include that of a wireless carrier's answeringsystem or means, wherein an incoming visual or video call that isanswered and recorded by the answering system of the wireless carriermay be screened by projection from a communication unit, including fromsuch as a wireless phone, PDA, or computer.

An answering system may be embodied within an Internet system wherein anincoming visual or video call that is answered and recorded by theanswering system of the Internet system may be screened by projectionfrom a communication unit, including from such as a wireless phone, PDA,or computer.

The communication unit, or answering unit, would be embodied with aprojection means integrated at least partially within the unitsproviding an enlarged visual/video call or message communicationsdisplay ability requiring substantially less space of the communicationunit, or answering unit, and provide a useful and easily viewabledisplay from which to screen incoming recorded, or answered and recordedcalls or messages or a visual or video image of an incoming caller orsender who is about to leave a message or has just finished leaving themessage and is still linked to the communication system.

Another embodiment may include that there is separate projector meansexternal to the communications unit, or answering unit, that is linkedor communicates with the communications unit, answering system, oranswering unit, wherein an incoming visual or video call or message thatis being recorded, or answered and recorded, or a visual or video imageof an incoming caller or sender who is about to leave a message or hasjust finished leaving the message and is still linked to thecommunication system may be projected and displayed for the user toscreen. It is preferable that this separate projector means is portable.

It is an advantage of the present invention to provide a new andimproved communications unit, or answering unit, with an integrated orbuilt-in image, or moving-image, projection means at least partiallyinside unit, capable of screening while projecting for display from theunit the visual call or message communications and/or video calls ormessages of video communications that are being answered and recordedonto surfaces external to the unit.

It is an advantage of the present invention to provide a new andimproved screening means with an image projection means capable ofscreening while projecting for display a visual or video call or messagecommunication that is being answered and recorded onto surfacesconnected or peripheral to a communications unit, or answering unit.

The present invention may be embodied to be capable of screening whileprojecting for display from the communication unit a visual component ofan incoming call or message communications that includes visual imageswhile the caller or sender's message is still being recorded and whilethe caller or sender still has a link with the communication system.Of-course, any audio component of an incoming visual or video call ormessage may be emitted from the communication unit, or answering unit,while projection screening of the incoming visual or video call ormessage.

The term “incoming” in the instant application refers to the end userreceiver being able to project while screening an incoming visual orvideo call or message, or incoming call that contains visual or videoimages, that is being answered and recorded by an answering system ex.video-mail, or an answering unit, while the sender is stillcommunicating the call including such as by verbally, typing, texting,TTY, videoing, photographing, or otherwise still communicating the call,while the sender is still transmitting the visual or video call ormessage or incoming call that contains visual or video images, or whilethe sender of the call still has a link with the communication systemupon or after leaving the recorded message, or any combination of such,wherein the user has not answered, connected, or linked with the calleror sender. This may include that the caller or sender of the visual orvideo communications has actually finished talking and/or typing, and/ortexting and/or videoing, and/or photographing, yet still remains on theline or linked to the communication system, not yet having terminatedthe connection.

It is an advantage of the present invention to provide a new andimproved communications unit, or answering unit, with an integrated orbuilt-in image, or moving-image, projection means at least partiallyinside unit, capable of screening while projecting for display from theunit the visual call or message communications and/or video calls ormessages of video communications that are being answered and recordedonto surfaces external to the unit.

The invention may also be embodied as an home based video-phone unit,with an integrated or built-in image and/or moving-image projectionmeans capable of screening while projecting the visual or video calls ormessages that are being answered and recorded.

An incoming visual call, may include such as images, video, and/or text.

The present invention can include and screen while projecting fordisplay incoming visual calls or messages. “Visual calls and messages”,“visual messaging”, and “visual images” may be or may include such asincoming still images including such as pictures and/or may also includesuch as that of other images including such as various types of textingcalls or messages.

It is an advantage of the present invention to provide a new andimproved communication unit with an integrated screening means thatallows for the projected screening of incoming visual or videocommunications that is more beneficial to users that arehearing-impaired. A projected and screened incoming visual call, whichmay include such as images, video, and especially texting, includingsuch as TTY texting, that can be enlarged by projection and display fromthe communication unit of the present invention, allows for a morecomfortable screening and viewing set-up and less strain to the eyes fora user who must attain his communication in a visual manner. A projectedscreened incoming call or message for those users who communicate byalphanumeric characters, including such as type, texting, or TTY, may beprojected and emitted from such embodiments that include that of akeyboard, integrated into or with, or otherwise linked to, thecommunication unit, or answering unit, of the present invention fortransmission of such, including such as projected screening from, forexample, a Blackberry, a cell phone or PDA with keyboard, a cell phonewith TTY capabilities, a standard-style TTY, a standard-style videophone with TTY capabilities, etc . . . .

The incoming screened projected visual or video images may be receivedfrom or utilize that from any visual/video communications orbroadcasting source, including such as that of, or which utilizes,Media-Player, Inter-Video, V-cast, streaming video, telecommunicationtransmission wireless telecommunication transmissions, Internettransmissions and/or computer transmissions, wireless broadband network,high speed networks, EV-DO, stream data, flash, macromedia flash, flashenabled, streaming MP3 and video, walkie-talkie, Video-On-Demand, orother formatted types of visual or video image communications.

This invention may also work with embodiments of a video-mail answeringsystem, or that of a video-mail answering machine or unit. Theprojection communication unit's answering system, or an answering unitwith a projection means, can also project and display video calls ormessages that have already been sent by a caller who has already left avideo call or video mail message, being replayed, projected anddisplayed at user's discretion. The present application may also includethe ability to project and display a user's answering system's, oranswering unit's, outgoing visual-mail greeting, either upon user'srecording the greeting, upon an incoming visual call be answered byanswering means, or at user's discretion.

The present application may also include the ability to record and storeany of the user's outgoing sent visual or video call or messages withthe capability to replay and project such calls or messages at a latertime or date. This may include such as a user's visual or video message,a text-style message and/or a combination video text-style message.

This invention may also work with embodiments of a video-mail answeringsystem or that of a video-mail answering machine that may also includethe capability for “call forwarding”, ex. from home number to mobilephone and vice-versa or the like.

This invention may also work with visual or video messages that aretransmitted over a bundled or a dual service wherein there may also beembodied a single video, or video/voice, mailbox for the landline andwireless calls whereby, with the present invention, the user can screenwhile projecting for display, both his cell phone visual calls andlandline visual calls through a single video, or voice/video, mailbox.

The present invention can also include and screen while projecting fordisplay incoming visual calls or messages that may include such asincoming text calls or messages, incoming text of TTY, incoming text ofstreaming text, incoming text of scrolling text, incoming text ofstreaming video text, picture calls and messages.

The present invention can screen by projection incoming visual and/orvideo calls from a standard video phone. The present invention canscreen by projection incoming visual communications and/or videocommunications that are received from or through the Internet.

The present invention can screen by projection incoming visualcommunications and/or video communications that are received using VoIPor Video VoIP.

The present invention can include screening by projection that ofincoming visual communications and/or video communications includingsuch as a visual or video call that is currently still being recorded,conveyed, relayed, related, imparted, communicated, sent, transmitted,spoken, texted or typed or TTY'd, videoed, photographed, or imaged,spoken or acted out by the caller or sender or while the caller orsender of the communication still has a link or association withcommunication system upon leaving a recorded message or prior tocommencement of leaving a recorded message. This can include such asreal-time answered and recorded visual or video messaging ornear-real-time answered and recorded visual or video messaging.

While screening, the projected and displayed incoming visual or videocommunications, may be enlarged at user's discretion for ease ofviewing.

The screened projected image of the visual or video communications iscapable of being displayed onto a surface external to the communicationunit's housing or casing and spaced a distance from the projection meansand/or the housing of the communication unit, yet still allowing forclarity.

A preferred embodiment of the present application for a communicationunit's projection means to project a screened visual or video call ormessage onto a projection surface that is external and separate fromthat of the communication unit's housing or casing. The screenedprojected image of the visual or video communications is preferablycapable of being projected onto any type of projection surface includingsuch as that of a nearby or remote wall or a piece of paper. Acommunications unit including such as a wireless mobile cellular phoneor PDA with an integrated projector for projecting and displaying thescreened visual or video communications onto an external and separatesurface would provide the user (the called person) with the benefit andoption of a larger visual display of a screened incoming visual or videocall or message communication, and/or a larger visual display of aplayed-back visual call or video call or message communication, easingthe strain on the user's eyes, allowing to see things in greater detail,and making for a more enjoyable viewing experience. It also providesmore comfortable viewing and reduces strain on eyes and provides amountof magnification.

A communications unit, with an integrated projector allowing for thescreening of projected incoming visual or video communications, thatinteracts with an answering system or an answering unit, also allows themanufacturers of a video-mail enabled communication unit orvideo-message enabled answering unit to keep the customary visual screenof the communication unit to a minimum size and therefore to keep thesize and the weight of the communication unit to a minimum.

A screened projected visual or video image of the present invention mayalso include or comprise various types or modes of incomingcommunications, including such as characters, graphics, images,alphanumeric images, text, TTY, type, moving or scrolling text,streaming text, streaming video text, pictures, etc . . . .

The screened projected visual or video images may come from a dockingstation made for a portable handheld communications unit, thecommunications unit imparting the incoming visual or video image to andthrough the projection means of the docking station in order for theuser to project and screen an incoming visual or video call.

The screened incoming visual or video communications may come from orthrough Internet transmissions. For example, Internet enabled computers,PDAs, wireless cell phones, or VoIP phones having the integratedprojection means of the instant application can screen projected visualor video images sent from or through the Internet or by Internettransmissions.

It is preferable that the communication units, or answering units, ofthe present invention include a means for the use to turn on or off thescreening projection means.

The visual or video communications or transmissions, communicationunits, answering systems, or answering units, of the instant applicationcan include or embody to screen and/or receive to screen visual or videocall or message communications and/or other types of visual or videoimages over, through, with, or from, singularly or in combination via awireless mobile phone system, carrier, network, or server, ISP,Internet, World Wide Web, DSL, cable, computer, video phone, mobilewireless or cellular video phone, cell phones with internet interface,wireless video phones, satellite telephones, broadband, wirelessbroadband, high speed network, walkie-talkie, cable, modem, landline,satellite, standard or cordless landline video phones, video e-mail,centralized video mail, video voice-mail, PDA's, internet phones, PDA'swith internet interface, computers with internet interface, television,television cable, Ethernet, VoIP (voice over internet protocol), VoIP(Video over internet protocol), which may also include that oftransmission of visual or video calls or messages, data transmissions,radio transmissions, internet transmissions, infrared, HOME PLUG,BLUETOOTH, wireless transmissions, and/or Vehicle mobile computing orcommunication systems including that of vehicle on-board navigation,communication and infotainment systems that allow communication toand/or from vehicles including On-star and Virtual, TTY transmission,calls or messaging with text.

The present invention includes the capability to visually screen byprojection incoming visual or video communication calls and/or messagesfrom a communication device, or answering unit, while the visual orvideo calls or messages are still incoming or while the caller or senderstill has a link with the communication system, so that a user (thecalled person) may see (by projected display) who is calling or sendingthe incoming call or message and what it is they are communicating.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and changes could be made to the invention or itsembodiments described and shown herein without departing from the scopeof the invention, and that further modifications and improvements willoccur to those skilled in the art. It should therefore be understoodthis invention is not limited to the particular forms shown or describedherein and that the claims are not to be considered as being limited tothe precise embodiments of the invention set forth above. Accordingly,it is intended that the appended claims cover all modifications,alternative aspects or embodiments that do not depart from the spiritand scope of the invention.

1. An apparatus or communication system for screening the incomingvisual or video message-content of incoming visual or video messagecommunications by visually projecting said visual message-contentoutward from said apparatus or communication system onto surfacesexternal to said apparatus or communication system comprising: portablehandheld communications unit an answering means or system for answeringand recording an incoming visual or video communication said portablehandheld communications unit including a built-in integrated orcollectively housed image or moving-image projection means housed atleast partially within said portable handheld communications unit forvisual screening by image or moving-image projection display theincoming message-content of the incoming visual or video call or messagecommunications onto surfaces external to said portable handheldcommunications unit wherein the user of said portable handheldcommunications unit has not yet answered, connected, or linked with thecaller or sender and the sender is still communicating the visualmessage-content of the incoming visual or video communication or stillhas a link with said communication system.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein said portable handheld communications unit is a wireless mobilecell phone.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said portable handheldcommunications unit is a PDA.
 4. The apparatus or communication systemof claim 1, wherein the user is able to project and display visualmessage-content of stored visual or video message communications fromsaid portable handheld communications unit onto surfaces external tosaid portable handheld communications unit.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein said apparatus or communication system for screening andprojecting the incoming visual or video message-content of incomingvisual or video message communications includes that of the Internetwhereby the incoming screened and projected visual or videocommunications are received via Internet.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5,wherein said answering means or system for answering and recording anincoming visual or video communication received via Internet access isan answering and recording means or system of said Internet.
 7. Theapparatus of claim 5, wherein said incoming screened and projectedvisual or video communications are received using VoIP or Video VoIP. 8.The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said visual message-content ofincoming visual or video message communications are or include that oftext or TTY transmissions.
 9. An apparatus or system of a wirelesstelecommunication system for screening the incoming visual or videomessage-content of incoming visual or video message wirelesscommunications transmissions by visually projecting said visualmessage-content outward from said wireless telecommunication apparatusor system onto surfaces external to said apparatus or system comprising:an answering and recording means of said wireless telecommunicationsystem for answering and recording an incoming visual or videocommunication a portable handheld wireless communications unit saidportable handheld wireless communications unit including a built-inintegrated or collectively housed image or moving-image projection meanshoused at least partially within said portable handheld wirelesscommunications unit for visual screening by image or moving-imageprojection display the incoming message-content of the incoming visualor video call or message communications onto surfaces external to saidportable handheld wireless communications unit wherein the user of saidwireless communications unit has not yet answered, connected, or linkedwith the caller or sender and the sender is still communicating thevisual or video communication or still has a link with said wirelesstelecommunication system.
 10. The apparatus or system of a wirelesstelecommunication system of claim 9, wherein the user is able to projectand display visual message-content of stored visual or video messagecommunications from said portable handheld wireless communications unitonto surfaces external to said Portable handheld wireless communicationsunit.
 11. The apparatus or system for screening the incoming visual orvideo message-content of incoming communications of claim 9, whereinsaid portable handheld wireless communications unit with projectionscreening means is a wireless mobile cell phone.
 12. The apparatus orsystem for screening the incoming visual or video message-content ofincoming communications of claim 9, wherein said portable handheldwireless communications unit with projection screening means is a PDA.13. An apparatus or communication system for screening the incomingvisual or video message-content of incoming visual or video messagecommunications by visually projecting said visual message-contentoutward from said apparatus or communication system onto surfacesexternal to said apparatus or communication system comprising: portablehandheld communications unit an answering means or system for answeringand recording an incoming visual or video communication at least one ofsaid portable handheld communications unit or answering means or systemincluding a built-in integrated or collectively housed image ormoving-image projection means housed at least partially within saidcommunications unit for screening by image or moving-image projectiondisplay the incoming message-content of the incoming visual or videocall or message communications onto surfaces external to at least one ofsaid portable handheld communications unit or answering means or systemwherein the user of said apparatus or communication system has not yetanswered, connected, or linked with the caller or sender and the senderis still communicating the visual message-content of the incoming visualor video communication or still has a link with said communicationsystem.
 14. An apparatus or system of a wireless telecommunicationsystem for screening the incoming visual or video message-content ofincoming visual or video message wireless communications transmissionsby visually projecting said visual message-content outward from saidwireless telecommunication apparatus or system onto surfaces external tosaid apparatus or system comprising: a portable handheld wirelesscommunications unit with visual or video image recording or storingmeans an answering means or system within or utilized by said apparatusor system of said wireless telecommunication system for answering anincoming visual or video communication said portable handheld wirelesscommunications unit including a built-in integrated or collectivelyhoused image or moving-image projection means housed at least partiallywithin said portable handheld wireless communications unit for visualscreening by image or moving-image projection display the incomingmessage-content of the incoming visual or video call or messagecommunications onto surfaces external to said portable handheld wirelesscommunications unit wherein the user of said wireless communicationsunit has not yet answered, connected, or linked with the caller orsender and the sender is still communicating the visual or videocommunication or still has a link with said wireless telecommunicationsystem.
 15. The apparatus or system for screening the incoming visual orvideo message-content of incoming communications of claim 14, whereinsaid answering means or system within or utilized by said apparatus orsystem of said wireless telecommunication system also records or storesthe incoming visual or video message-content of incoming visual or videomessage wireless communications transmissions.